Dwivedi, Anju2025-04-152025-04-152001-07-31Dwivedi,Anju. (2001). NZ Vass Impact Assessment: Pilot Programme, PRIA.http://192.9.200.215:4000/handle/123456789/389The Voluntary Agency Support Scheme (VASS) funds New Zealand NGOs working with overseas partners to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development. A 1998 evaluation highlighted the need for stronger impact assessment beyond basic monitoring. In response, MFAT launched a pilot programme focused on capacity building and learning. South Asia was chosen for the first phase with participation from four NZ NGOs and their local partners.The participatory impact assessment pilot initiative derived strength from involvement of all stakeholders from the initial phase of the project. The effort to make participatory impacts assessment non-imposing contributed enormously in smooth completion of this pilot initiative. The space was provided to NZ NGOs to constantly engage in a process of dialogue and discussions with partner organisations including chief executives and the board members to win support and trust. An environment of openness and candour proved extremely conducive in facilitating the process. The facilitators for the partner organisations were not seen as evaluators but as guide to the process. The planning with facilitators, NZ NGOs, partner organisations and the community was the hallmark of the process. The communities were constantly engaged in a process of quest, exploration and analysis in various ways. Effective methods were used to collect information on the impact to elicit maximum participation of the people involved. Greater involvement led to a better understanding of the impact, both intended and unintended. This also resulted in the planning of future strategies to overcome or minimise the unintended pact. The whole process highlighted the specific niche and capacities that the communities exhibited while carrying out impact assessment. They themselves saw the entire process as empowering.enPartnership principlesCapacity buildingMinistry of Foreign Affairs and TradeSouth Asia developmentPilot programmeTechnical Report