August 16, 2021

By: Henry Malone

Results-Based Accountability (RBA) is a disciplined way of thinking and taking action that improves the lives of children, families and communities, and can also help guide agencies to improving the performance of their programs. 

RBA helps agencies, nonprofits and government entities achieve their collective impact goals by starting at the ends and working backward towards the means. This involves identifying what outcomes are desired for specific communities or groups and aligning the actions and resources necessary in order to fulfill them.

While it may seem like a complex system of management, RBA is intended to include simple, easy-to-understand processes that help mitigate challenges and fosters collaboration along the way. It also places an emphasis on data transparency, ensuring the well-being of the groups of individuals that you are seeking to benefit and the performance of your programs.

An effective method used to implement RBA into a desired impact or program is the “turn-the-curve” process. The first step in the process is identifying the mean, or the outcome in which we want to achieve with our program or community. This involves zeroing in on a specific group of people to focus on, choosing what quality within that group you want to improve (called a result), and figuring out to what extent you want to make that improvement (called an indicator).

Once indicators or performance measures have been pinned down, the next step is to find the relevant data to each of those indicators that can be graphed to provide the foundation for future decision-making. Two important such graphs are 1.) a historic baseline at ideally 5 years, and 2) a forecast for what the indicator or performance measure could be in 3-5 years with a RBA framework in place.

The baseline and forecast combine to represent the “curve” that will be turned through RBA, but before that can happen, it’s essential to distinguish the factors that have contributed to success and those that have hindered progress. Piecing together the story behind the curve requires not just surface-level identification of problems, but rather a thorough analysis of the deeper rooted issues that could be the stem of many of the hindrances to progress.

While finding these problems can be eye-opening, they also can lead you toward the proper solution. Finding partners equipped with the skills and resources required to address the issue is an important step in alleviating those setbacks and turning the curve in your favor.

Once you start developing strategies for turning the curve, there are several factors that need to be taken into account before implementation can occur. Assessing any and all options at your disposal is critical in effectively addressing the root causes for failure, such as whether an option can address multiple root issues at once, whether an option is evidence-based, or if there is a low cost/no-cost option available that will be just as effective.

Finally, before choosing which strategy to proceed with, it must answer the most important questions in regard to successful RBA. Will it make meaningful progress compared to the baseline? Is it feasible? Is it specific enough to be implemented? Does it align with the values of the community or agency? Once your strategy or strategies clear these four criteria, you can begin the process of implementing them into your desired community or performance measure.

For more information on RBA guidance, download our eBook here!

About the Author:

Henry Malone received his B.A. in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2021. There, he served as Deputy Editor for the University newspaper, the Testudo Times. As a marketing and journalism intern for Clear Impact, Henry researches, writes, and edits website content and news articles focusing on the nonprofit and public sectors.