Institutional Learning and Change Initiative

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

Systems (or inputs-outputs) diagram

The purpose of this method is to allow for a detailed analysis of flows of inputs and outputs in a system (such as a farm, a forest, an organisation or even a larger geographical region). Systems diagrams can help to analyse the inputs needed to make the system work, as well as its outputs. From an M&E perspective, this method can help assess, for example, if blockages are being alleviated or new ones emerging, where quantitative gains are being made in terms of output increases, where inputs are preventing progress, etc.

Particular inputs and outputs can be focused upon for greater detail, for example, a commodity flow diagram, which looks at the movement of commodities between areas.

Gender/Age/Well-being-differentiated analyses of systems diagrams allow for detailed insights into how different members of a household or different types of households view changes and bottlenecks in the system.

Source: 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