Abstract

The effectiveness of humanitarian programs normally is evaluated according to a limited number of pre-defined objectives. These objectives typically rep- resent only selected positive expected impacts of program interventions and as such, are inadequate benchmarks for understanding the overall effective- ness of aid. This is because programs also have unexpected impacts (both pos- itive and negative) as well as expected negative impacts and expected positive impacts beyond the program objectives. The authors contend that these other categories of program impacts also should be assessed, and suggest a method- ology for doing so that draws on input from the perspectives of beneficiaries. This paper includes examples of the use of this methodology in the field. Finally, the authors suggest future directions for improving this type of expanded assessment and advocate for its widespread use, both within and without the field of disaster response.