I was inspired by a conversation with some colleagues recently, and wanted to write down some ideas for how we write outcome statements. I work with a lot of human rights organisations, using rights-based and activist approaches to their work. They often work in spaces where women’s and children’s lives are at risk, so there are added lenses of feminist and inclusive approaches to how I work with them. Outcomes are hard to measure in any space, but extra when your activities could in themselves be outcomes – when you’re working in a shrinking civic space, for example.

Some ideas for how to best write and think about outcome statements:

Step 1: Identify the goal of the programme, intervention, or strategy

The first step in writing outcome statements is to identify the overall goal it will help contribute to. The goal should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). The goal should also be aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives.

Step 2: Determine the programme’s objectives

After identifying the programme’s goal, the next step is to determine the objectives that will help achieve the goal. Think of these as the steps you need to take. Objectives should be SMART as well.

Step 3: Define the outcomes

Once you have identified the programmes’s objectives, the next step is to define the outcomes that will be achieved as a result of the programme. Outcomes are the specific changes that will occur as a result of achieving the program’s objectives. They’re also specific to you, and can be traced back to the work you put into the programme.

Step 4: Use clear and concise language

When writing outcome statements, it is important to use clear and concise language. Use simple sentences that are easy to understand. Avoid using technical jargon or acronyms that may be unfamiliar to stakeholders. The language used should be specific and measurable to ensure that the outcomes can be tracked and measured accurately.

Step 5: Be specific

Outcome statements should be specific and focused on the changes that will occur as a result of the programme. It should be something you have direct control over. Avoid using general or vague statements that are difficult to measure. Instead, use specific and measurable statements that clearly describe the expected outcomes.

Step 6: Test the outcome statements

After writing the outcome statements, it is important to test them to ensure that they are clear, specific, and measurable. Can you trace ‘up’ the results framework to line up the specific outcomes with the changes you expect them to make? If not, you may need to rewrite them. Share the outcome statements with your people, such as programme participants or community members, and get their feedback. Use their feedback to revise and improve the outcome statements as necessary.