Institutional Learning and Change Initiative

The following text is drawn from Guijt and Woodhill (2002).

Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT)

The purpose is to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in relation to a project or group, and how such an assessment will change over time. From an M&E perspective, this method is useful when qualitatively assessing, for example, the services provided by the project, relationships between project stakeholders and the organisations of the implementing partners, local groups and the project team itself.

What are strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats?

• Strengths: Those things that are working well in a project or situation. The aspects people are proud to talk about.
• Weaknesses: Those things that have not worked so well.
• Opportunities: Ideas on how to overcome weaknesses and build on strengths.
• Threats: The things that constrain or threaten the range of opportunities for change.

Soruce: Guijt, I. and J. Woodhill (2002). Managing for Impact in Rural Development : A guide for project M & E. Rome, Italy: International Fund for Agricultural Development http://www.ifad.org/evaluation/guide/index.htm