The report, Accountability and Learning: Developing Monitoring and Evaluation in the Third Sector, is the first comprehensive research on monitoring and evaluation in the third sector for over 20 years.

A study by consultant Mog Ball 20 years ago found little effective monitoring and evaluation in the voluntary sector.

This new study has found the landscape transformed: there has been effective dissemination of basic evaluation models across the sector, and there is much greater availability of resources and training to support third sector organisations on evaluation.

However, large numbers of third sector organisations are still struggling, according to the study’s author, Dr Jean Ellis.

“While the research found good evidence of many organisations using evaluation to develop their services and campaigning, there is still a huge constituency of organisations that are struggling with the basics of monitoring and evaluation and to understand outcomes and impact approaches.”

At the same time accountability expectations have grown enormously. These are generated by funders and commissioners looking to ensure that their funding is used effectively.

However, the requirements are rarely matched by resources available for monitoring and evaluation, and there is little evidence of reporting requirements being made proportionate to size of organisation or level of funding.

The research concludes that it remains important for funders to invest in sources of support and to recognise the resource implications of building sound monitoring and evaluation systems, including developing IT capacity.

According to Ellis: “The report stresses that funders and commissioners should work more closely with third sector organisations to ensure a closer match between third sector information needs for learning and development and those required for compliance and accountability”.

This is the largest study yet undertaken, capturing the experiences of over 700 third sector organisations and over 100 funders and commissioners.