Research · Impact Measurement
How EALO measures research impact
Measuring research impact means following what actually happens after research is published — not claiming credit for it. EALO's approach to research impact assessment is built on one rule: every stage, from publication to verified impact evidence, is recorded separately and honestly.
Why it matters
Impact measurement in Africa needs honesty, not inflation
Across the continent, research is often judged by how much is published rather than by what changes as a result. EALO's answer is a transparent, stage-by-stage record of what happens to its recommendations — including when nothing happens. This is how research impact assessment stays credible: claims are tied to evidence, and the difference between recommending and implementing is always clear.
EALO is an independent research organization, not a software vendor. This page explains how we assess the impact of our own research.
Our principles
Four rules for credible impact measurement
- 01
Impact is claimed only with evidence
EALO does not publish estimated, projected or fictional impact claims. A result is recorded only when there is verifiable evidence — a documented decision, an implementation record, or a measured outcome with a named source.
- 02
Recommendations are not outcomes
EALO researches and recommends. Adoption and implementation are decisions and actions taken by governments, institutions and organizations. Each is recorded separately, so a recommendation is never presented as something EALO implemented.
- 03
Non-adoption is recorded, not hidden
When a recommendation is not adopted, that is recorded too — with an explanation where one is known. An honest record of what did not happen is part of measuring research impact credibly.
- 04
Only selected recommendations are tracked
EALO tracks selected high-impact recommendations rather than everything it publishes. This keeps the record verifiable and prevents volume from being mistaken for impact.
The method
Six stages, each recorded separately
For each tracked recommendation, EALO records a status, date, evidence, source and last-updated note at every stage where information is available. A recommendation that stalls at stage two is shown as stalled at stage two.
- 01
Research Published
The research and its recommendations are made available.
- 02
Recommendation Presented
The recommendation is formally presented to the institutions positioned to act.
- 03
Adoption
An institution decides to act on the recommendation — recorded with evidence of that decision.
- 04
Implementation
The recommendation is put into practice by the adopting institution, not by EALO.
- 05
Results
Observable results are documented with sources.
- 06
Impact Evidence
Verified evidence of impact is recorded — never asserted without it.
Common questions
Measuring research impact: frequently asked questions
What does measuring research impact actually mean?
It means tracking what happens after research is published — whether its recommendations are presented, adopted, implemented, and what results can be verified. It is different from counting publications, citations or downloads, which measure attention rather than change. At EALO, each stage from publication to impact evidence is recorded separately, with sources.
How is research impact measured in African contexts specifically?
Through documented decisions, implementation records and verified outcomes — the same standards as anywhere — but with attention to context: policy processes may be informal as well as formal, data systems can be thin, and results may take longer to appear. That is why EALO records evidence and sources at every stage rather than relying on a single indicator, and records when a recommendation was not adopted rather than omitting it.
How long does it take to see the impact of research?
There is no fixed timeline. Some recommendations are acted on quickly; others take years, or are never adopted. EALO's impact record therefore shows status at each of six stages — Research Published, Recommendation Presented, Adoption, Implementation, Results, Impact Evidence — updated as verifiable information becomes available, rather than announcing impact on a schedule.
How do you distinguish a recommendation from actual impact?
By recording each stage separately. A recommendation is what EALO proposes. Adoption is a decision by an institution. Implementation is that institution putting it into practice — not EALO. Results are documented changes, and impact evidence is verified evidence tied to a named source. EALO never presents a recommendation it published as something it implemented.
What happens when a recommendation is not adopted?
It is recorded, not hidden. The impact record shows a Not Adopted status with an explanation where one is known. An honest record of what did not happen is part of credible impact measurement — omitting it would make the record meaningless.
Does EALO track the impact of everything it publishes?
No. EALO tracks selected recommendations where impact is most plausible and verifiable. Tracking everything would make the record impossible to verify honestly, and volume of publication should never be mistaken for impact.
Who can see EALO's impact record?
The public impact record at ealo.org/impact shows each tracked recommendation's journey — status, date, evidence, notes and source at every stage where information is available. Anyone can check what EALO claims against the evidence it cites.
Have a question about how EALO measures research impact? Contact EALO.