Monitoring and Evaluating Astronomy-for-Development Initiatives

TL;DR

This paper provides a practical guide for designing, implementing, and evaluating astronomy-for-development projects, emphasizing systematic evidence collection to improve impact, accountability, and sustainability aligned with SDGs.

Contribution

It offers a comprehensive framework and practical steps for monitoring and evaluating astronomy-for-development initiatives, tailored for practitioners and proposal writers.

Findings

Guidelines for effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in astronomy projects.

Strategies for developing a theory of change and selecting indicators.

Examples of applying M&E to enhance project impact and sustainability.

Abstract

This paper serves as a practical guide for individuals and organisations seeking to design, implement, and evaluate astronomy-for-development initiatives, as well as those preparing proposals for the International Astronomical Union's Office of Astronomy for Development (IAU OAD) annual Call for Proposals. The paper aims to outline how systematic evidence collection can strengthen project design, enhance accountability, and increase the likelihood of measurable impact. It explains the distinction between monitoring and evaluation, provides guidance on when and how evaluation should be undertaken, and summarises key evaluation types - process, feasibility, impact, outcome, economic, and summative, relevant to astronomy-based interventions. In addition to conceptual discussion, the paper presents a set of practical steps, reflective questions, and examples to help project teams develop a clear theory of change, define appropriate indicators, and anticipate risks and unintended consequences. By contextualising M&E within the broader goals of the OAD and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this work aims to empower practitioners to create evidence-informed, community-driven, and sustainable astronomy-for-development projects that deliver both local and global benefit.