| Grassroots Development Framework (GDF)
A
framework for designing indicators which measure tangible
and intangible impacts at macro, meso and micro levels. |
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Background |
The
Grassroot Development Framework (also known as the Cone) recognises
the range of potential impacts of development interventions. It
represents clearly the different levels from micro to macro at which
impacts can occur, and the interactions that can take place between
them.
In its simplest form the framework visualises impacts at three levels:
direct benefits (to individuals or families); strengthening of organisations
(NGOs, CBO, networks); and broader impacts on society (community,
regional, national). There can be two aspects to these impacts:
- Tangible
impacts, i.e. those that are physical and material and can somehow
be counted, measured and substantiated by direct evidence; and
- Intangible
impacts i.e. those that can only be observed or inferred and are
thus harder to measure in a quantitative manner.
From
this basic framework, six categories, or ‘windows’ can
be identified: Policy Environment; Organisational Capability; Standard
of Living; Community Norms; Organisational Culture and Personal
Capacity. Each of these represents a sphere of intended influence.
A hypothesis of the Framework is that for development efforts to
be sustainable, they should aim to address all the dimensions of
the Cone. Participation, empowerment, equity and sustainability
undergrid the framework.
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Guide to GDF tools |
The
Grassroots Development Framework has been developed and applied
by the InterAmerican Foundation (IAF) (http://www.iaf.gov).
It has since been adopted an adapted by a number of other organisations
principally in Latin America.
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