Starting by delimiting the context of the initiative to be evaluated and defining its objectives is key to creating an evaluation plan that adapts to the reality of where it is being used.

Civímetro proposes seven dimensions that characterise civic innovation. Selecting those that are aligned with the initiative’s objectives and way of doing things allows us to define which we consider important for the initiative to achieve the expected results.

Specifying the scope of the evaluation allows it to be adapted to realistic expectations according to the circumstances of each context and available resources.

The theory of change is a representation of the entire value chain of the activity we are evaluating. It includes all the hypotheses and assumptions of how we believe the activity will develop. This theory is the basis for identifying the indicators we will need in the evaluation. It is created by the evaluation team and agreed upon with the initiative’s main actors. On the one hand, it allows the evaluation team to truly know the reality of what it is evaluating and, on the other, to ensure that the actors involved have a common perspective on the evaluation.

For the measurement of indicators to be systematised and efficient, it is necessary to create an infrastructure that facilitates the collection and analysis of data in a clear and simple way and is integrated into the initiative to be evaluated.

The production, collection and systematisation of data and documentation to measure the indicators is a crucial step in the evaluation process: from theory to practice.