Baseline survey
In order to evaluate any kind of action or project, it is vital to know what the situation is (or was) at the initial phase. Without the baseline information it is very difficult to measure the actual amount of change the overall project has been responsible for, or which of its components have worked most efficiently.

The baseline survey phase involves such evaluations as:

• Needs analysis (who are in need of the program, how needed the program is, what can be done to meet specific needs, etc.)
• Acknowledgement, attitudes and expertise study (what the target group knows, what attitudes they have, what the "on-the-ground” situation is, etc.)

Implementation monitoring
Monitoring the implementation of ongoing programs allows specific processes to be observed, strengths and weaknesses to be identified, and data illustrating which components are being adequately implemented and which are not to be collected. Fine-tuning during implementation can be an essential component of a given project’s success and it is often worthwhile to find out what else can be done to achieve more effective results. Continued monitoring also ensures that the proper modifications to the ongoing processes are actually made.

Outcome evaluation
The overall effectiveness of a project’s results is usually evaluated after the project has been implemented. This kind of study can reveal a program’s sustainability with regard to the target group, and what unexpected or unplanned impacts it has had upon the general environment. Efficiency evaluation becomes even more useful when baseline data is provided, allowing for a number of comparisons to be made.