Impact tools

The impact tools draw on the experience and good practice of country partners and experts. They help researchers plan and monitor effective knowledge exchange and impact. They provide guidance and ideas for all stages of the research life cycle.

The impact tools include methodological and planning guidance; illustrative examples and case studies demonstrating good practice; and practical resources and templates that can be adjusted to specific research and impact priorities.

Download: Getting started with impact

What is research impact?

Research impact encompasses academic, conceptual, capacity building, instrumental and collective impact. Here we introduce the key principles to understanding impact, helping you to anticipate impact from the project outset, seeing it as a process as well as an output.

Key steps in planning impact

Impact planning should be embedded throughout the whole research life cycle. The impact tools guide you through the key steps and include: planning the desired impact; identifying stakeholders and beneficiaries; developing strategies and interventions; critical reflection; communication, outreach, networking and collaboration; and tracking impact.

Planning and monitoring framework

The planning and monitoring framework is designed to assist the planning stage, including: the necessary inputs, planned activities and outputs; anticipated awareness and reaction; required engagement and participation; and desired impact. The framework also helps with the monitoring stage, identifying the impact already achieved.

Engaging with stakeholders

Effective ways of engaging with stakeholders are important throughout the research life cycle. Here we provide four kinds of illustrative tools: how to present evidence to policy-makers; good practice examples demonstrating the work of the country partners; child-friendly tools for sharing findings with children; and communication tools for communicating findings and tracking user engagement.