Reporting needs analysis template

This template aims to help evaluators think through and document some of the issues around reporting needs during an evaluation.

This resource and the following information was contributed by Alice Macfarlan.

Authors and their affiliation

Alice Macfarlan, BetterEvaluation

Key features

This word document is a template to help evaluators and stakeholders document the reporting needs of an evaluation project. It contains prompts the user with five key questions:

  • Who needs to be updated?
  • What decisions do they need to make?
  • When do they need to make these decisions?
  • What information do they need to make these decisions?
  • What format do they need this information in?

Feedback and suggested revisions to this template are welcome - please contact BetterEvaluation.

How have you used or intend on using this resource?

I created a resource as I was looking for a good example of a Reporting Needs Analysis Template to share with BetterEvaluation users and couldn't find one. This should ideally be used in tandem (or to feed into) a larger evaluation or communication plan.

Why would you recommend it to other people?

This template aims to get people thinking about the reporting of an evaluation as something more than just a final report. Prompting people to think about what type of information is needed by whom when, and in what format, can help to support the use of evaluation findings.

Sources

BetterEvaluation (2018) Reporting needs analysis template.

'Reporting needs analysis template' is referenced in: