HomeAbout UsAreas of ExpertiseMethodologies & InnovationGovernance & EthicsInternational ReachOur TeamContact

Methodologies & Innovation

Our research and evaluation approaches are grounded in international standards, adapted to local realities, and continuously improved through field learning.

Data-driven research and evidence synthesis
Our Approach

How We Design and Deliver Our Work

Every methodology we deploy is selected for its fitness to the specific question at hand — not because it is familiar or convenient.

Mixed-Methods Research Design

We integrate quantitative and qualitative methods to generate findings that are both statistically grounded and contextually rich. Survey data tells us what is happening; qualitative inquiry tells us why.

  • Large-scale household and beneficiary surveys
  • Key informant interviews and focus group discussions
  • Participatory rural appraisal and community mapping
  • Observational studies and field-level validation
  • Secondary data review and evidence synthesis

Results-Based Management (RBM)

Our programme design and MEL work is anchored in RBM principles — defining clear results chains, setting SMART indicators, and establishing accountability mechanisms at every level.

  • Theory of Change development and visualisation
  • Logical framework and results framework design
  • SMART indicator banks with disaggregation protocols
  • Baseline data collection and target-setting
  • Adaptive management and course-correction mechanisms

OECD-DAC Evaluation Criteria

All our evaluations are structured around the six OECD-DAC criteria: Relevance, Coherence, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Impact, and Sustainability — applied systematically and proportionately.

  • Criterion-by-criterion evaluation matrix design
  • Contribution analysis and attribution approaches
  • Counterfactual reasoning where feasible
  • Triangulation across data sources and methods
  • Forward-looking sustainability assessment

UNEG Norms & Standards

Evaluations conducted for UN system clients adhere fully to UNEG Norms for Evaluation in the UN System and UNEG Standards for Evaluation — ensuring independence, utility, and credibility.

  • Evaluation independence and impartiality safeguards
  • Stakeholder participation and management responses
  • Ethical standards for fieldwork and data use
  • Quality assurance through reference group oversight
  • Utilisation-focused evaluation design

Most Significant Change (MSC)

MSC methodology captures developmental outcomes that conventional indicator frameworks cannot adequately measure — particularly transformative change in behaviours, relationships, and power dynamics.

  • Domain selection and story collection protocols
  • Panel review and most significant story selection
  • Verification and feedback loops to programme staff
  • Integration with quantitative MEL frameworks
  • Donor-ready MSC reporting formats

Participatory & Inclusive Methods

Genuine participation by communities and right-holders is not just ethically important — it produces better data, more grounded analysis, and more sustainable recommendations.

  • Community-based participatory appraisal
  • Gender-responsive facilitation techniques
  • Inclusion of persons with disabilities in sampling
  • Multilingual research instruments (Urdu, Sindhi, Pashto)
  • Visual and oral methods for low-literacy populations
Digital Tools & Platforms
KoboToolbox (CAPI) mWater (CAPI) SurveyCTO (CAPI) ESRI ArcGIS QGIS SPSS R / R Studio Power BI GIS / Spatial Analysis HEC-RAS / HEC-HMS GroundWater Vistas Microsoft Power Platform
Frameworks & Standards

International Frameworks We Align With

OECD-DAC Evaluation Criteria UNEG Norms & Standards Results-Based Management (RBM) UNDP Social & Environmental Standards GEF-8 Safeguards World Bank ESF Paris Agreement / NDCs SDG Framework PSEA Standards SPHERE Standards ISO 17025 Pakistan EPA Guidelines

Want to Discuss Methodology?

We are happy to walk potential clients through our methodological approach for any specific assignment type before a procurement decision is made.

Start a Conversation