How to reflect on impact: developing an impact pathway

To guide this formative evaluation process, ASIRPA Real-Time (RT) relies on a central tool: the impact pathway. The method is structured around three main steps to build this impact pathway. Workshops are organised with researchers — and, where possible, with other relevant actors — to reflect collectively on each step. The approach is based on retrospective reasoning: it consists of starting from the future and moving back to the present.

1. The first step aims to build a shared vision of a desired future at a defined horizon (e.g., 2040), in which the R&I project or programme has contributes to addressing the identified societal challenge. This involves making explicit the aimed direction and envisioning the desired transformations and impacts that this entails.
2. The second step consists of identifying the research results and knowledge needed to contribute to the desired future. It aligns current activities and expected research and innovation outputs with this vision of the desired future.
3. The third step is the intermediation phase. It aims at identifying the concrete conditions that will link the research results (Step 2) to the targeted societal transformations (Step 1). This involves reflecting on who and what needs to be put in place to connect current activities to the desired future, and to enable the embedding of solutions in society.

Figure: Building an impact pathway

These visions of impact can change over time, for example due to the emergence of new collaborations or relationships between actors, the achievement of new research results, as well as changes in the socio-economic, political or environmental context in which the project or programme is situated. Therefore, building the impact pathway should be considered an iterative and adaptive process. It is important to revise the impact pathway periodically (every 12 to 18 months). Following this dynamic, workshops should become progressively more participatory, involving a wider range of actors.

To learn more about the ASIRPA Real-Time approach and how to use it:

• consult the online course (reserved for INRAE staff);
• or contact our team.

Go to subsection: The approach in practice