Developing a research information system for two South African agricultural industries: Learning about the impact of funded research

There is a need for funders to make informed decisions about the potential and real impacts of their research, with a focus on learning about the elements of a project that produce broader impact. What seems to be required are SIMPLE tools that will allow funders to systematically monitor for impact already during the ‘project life’, i.e. from the project start to the project end.

A set of tools was developed to monitor systematically for impact. The tools (templates) were informed by insights from: (1) various research impact approaches (IOM, SIAMPI, ASIRPA), (2) implementation science (the AACTT framework), (3) discussions with researchers involved in the three mentioned research impact approaches, as well as (4) four project case studies and two surveys of members of the technical committees of Winetech and Hortgro.

Seven tools were developed. The first, a Research Impact Pathway Framework, provides the overall logic and conceptual frame for the other six tools (templates). Four of the templates are for collecting data about impact creation and contribution at different project intervals (concept proposal, project application, progress report and final report). The other two templates deal will the scoring and reporting of the data collected.

The tools provide basic indicators for inclusion in funder reports (to satisfy accountability pressures), as well as providing evidence for decision-making by funders (i.e. to identify projects that require intervention or re-direction in order to meet the desired expected outcomes).

Any system to monitor the impact of research should treat the data that it collects as its most valuable asset. Not only of importance is the systematic collection of impact- related data but also the systematic analysis of such data.