The need for donors to better understand and improve the performance of the organizations they support led to development of the institutional and organizational assessment approach. In collaboration with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Universalia developed an organizational assessment framework that is relevant to all organizations, regardless of their nature. Together we published the Institutional and Organizational Assessment Model (IOA Model), which can be used as a framework for external evaluation or as a self-assessment tool.
In the IOA model, performance is defined in terms of the organization’s effectiveness (mission fulfillment), efficiency (accuracy, timeliness and value of service and program delivery), ongoing relevance (the extent to which an organization adapts to changing conditions and its environment), and financial viability. The model also presents an approach to assessing the three underlying forces that drive performance: the capacities of an organization, its external environment, and the internal motivation of the staff.
The IOA model is inherently problem-solving and forward-looking and is useful for structuring capacity building interventions. It is also dynamic! We have used this model in countless organizational assessments for governmental and non-governmental organizations all over the world.
We also provide IOA training for partners in many languages and locations, and are currently cooperating with IDRC and McGill on the development of an interactive tool for organizational assessment.
For more information, see our IOA publications.