Creating a new MEL system

Rewilding Britain

The Challenge

Create the organisation's first impact framework; a move towards an outcomes-based approach after ten years of operating. Within an environemtal NGO sector that isn’t experienced with outcomes-based approaches.

What I Did
Created and implemented the impact framework, facilitated workshops, upskilled staff, embedded new learning and reflection processes and tools by amending the newly created quarterly review meetings, and updated the board report template. I also devised outcomes and indicators for the organisation’s first Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy.

Impact
Provided the organisation with foundations to take a more robust approach to monitoring progress, documenting impact and embedding equity and diversity.

What They Said

“Faruk has helped the team at Rewilding Britain develop the Impact Framework to support our 2025-2030 strategy. In doing so, he's increased our knowledge and understanding of monitoring, evaluation and learning and supported us to embed reflection into our programme and project management approach. We now have confidence that we are paying attention to the right things to enable us to demonstrate the impact of our engagement with the public, with policy makers and rewilders.

Faruk has been a pleasure to work with, bringing insights and reflection to discussion and has demonstrated his particular strength in taking our collective thinking and structuring it into a framework we can measure against. Thank you!”

Marian Carson, Chief Operating Officer, Rewilding Britain

Grant programme evaluation readiness

National Institute for Health and Care Research

The Challenge
As part of newly form MEL team, ensuring all eight Research Infrastructure schemes were evaluation ready by developing MEL plans for each scheme including logic models and key evaluation questions. While some schemes had existing logic models they all needed standardising and to have accompanying MEL plans.

What I Did
Led MEL planning, co-developed logic models and evaluation questions, scoped and designed outcome and process evaluation for the Biomedical Research Centres scheme which also included developing the tender and designing the bid assessment process.

Impact
The Research Infrastructure schemes were evaluation ready and had a foundation to improve monitoring, evaluation and learning.

Sector-Leading Carbon Footprint Assessment

National Lottery Heritage Fund

The Challenge
Measure the carbon footprint of the grants portfolio and set a science-based decarbonisation target to achieve net zero by 2050. With this not being done for any UK based funder’s portfolio there were no established methods and approaches to adopt.

What I Did
Led sector-leading research on carbon footprint assessment, coordinated collation of data from different teams, and facilitated a steering group. Briefed consultants unfamiliar with funder practices and worked collaboratively to make decisions and tackle challenges.

Impact
Delivered the first carbon footprint assessment of a funding portfolio in the UK. Enabled the organisation to set and monitor decarbonisation targets, enhancing environmental outcomes reporting. Made recommendations to improve data collection processes benefiting both grantees and the Heritage Fund.

What They Said

“Faruk and I worked together on a research project to measure the carbon footprint of the projects we fund at the National Lottery Heritage Fund. What a project it was, it's safe to say that we are still working towards an answer but we got far more out of the project than we could have anticipated - true insight into what good quality data collection looks like for us as a funder and how to get there. All of this wouldn't have been possible without Faruk's project management and research expertise, he took a creative and flexible approach to guide us towards the outcomes we set out. He built a strong and approachable relationship with our wonderful external consultants which led to an extremely collaborative project.

What I admired most was Faruk's ability to draw parallels between different projects within the organisation, actively seeking out ways to further the impact of the project and embed the work within the organisation.”

Joanne Robinson-Cheale, Head of Environmental Sustainability at National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Improving a major funder’s approach to EDI

National Lottery Heritage Fund

The Challenge
Contributing to the organisations EDI Review, gather insights about grantees, unsuccessful and potential applicants views and definitions of heritage, their support needs and their expectations of the Heritage Fund’s role. This was conducted during the COVID pandemic.

What I Did
Working collaboratively to draft the brief, shape the project plan, lead the steering group, work with consultants. facilitating effective decision making.

Impact
Shaping and communicating findings and recommendations linked to all areas of the Fund's operations which fed into the delivery of the EDI Review actions.

What They Said

“Faruk is a fantastic researcher and insight manager and he was a great asset for my team during his time at the Heritage Fund. Faruk is inquisitive and thinks strategically, but also takes a proactive approach to the projects he works on, ensuring that work is completed to time, budget and quality standards. This is a rare combination and makes Faruk a great fit for any applied research or evaluation role, especially those that have a direct link to strategy.

During his time at the Heritage Fund Faruk managed an important research project which sought to understand the perceptions of our grantees regarding our approach to inclusion and diversity. This was a commission that raised important questions for our organisation, but also had to be completed to a very tight timescale. Faruk did a fantastic job of delivering this research in a highly collaborative manner, while all the time keeping the work right on schedule. He actively communicated the findings from the project, making them relevant to the wider inclusion review the Fund was conducting and liaising with staff at all levels of the organisation. This culminated in Faruk delivering an excellent presentation to our executive team, which included recommendations and findings. He achieved all of this while working remotely through the COVID lockdowns. I would highly recommend Faruk and wish him all the best in his future career!”

Thomas Walters, Deputy Director of Impact at the National Lottery Community Fund

Shaping a new strategy

NCVO

The Challenge
Shape the membership organisation’s new strategy by analysing feedback from a nationwide member consultation process involving over 900 organisations and individuals.

What I Did
Analysed survey, interview, workshop, and focus group data, co-produced coding frameworks, extracted and refined key insights, and presented findings to trustees.

Impact
The strategy was shaped around the relationship-centred insights identified in the analysis, ensuring member’s feedback shaped the strategy and met their needs.

Evaluating capacity building

Habitats & Heritage

The Challenge
External evaluation of a project ‘Inspiring a love of local places: Strengthening the Environment Trust's capacity to deliver’ funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund at short notice with limited budget and no prior evaluation planning.

What I Did:
Focussed evaluation on communications, volunteering, and membership; delivered a thorough review within limited time; supported the upcoming charity merger.

Impact:
Provided actionable recommendations and facilitated merger preparedness.

What They Said

“Faruk was a pleasure to work with during his role as external evaluator of our two-year National Lottery Heritage Fund resilience building project. Despite limited time, Faruk provided a thorough and considered review of our work and dedicated much of his time to help. Faruk was on hand to support us and I would highly recommend his services.”

Sophie Norden, Supporter, Fundraising and Partnership Manager at Habitats & Heritage

Evaluating capacity building

FareShare UK

The Challenge
Managing the final external evaluation for National Lottery Community Fund grant to increase capacity and efficiency across the network, including volunteering. As a result of the pandemic grant spending and timelines changed. This meant the final evaluation took place only 4 months after the interim evaluation. I needed to ensure the final evaluation did not replicate the interim report and was also useful for FareShare’s development because it was a bigger org after the pandemic than it was before.

What I Did
Coordinated cross-organisation input and identified evaluation focus areas, delivering a report that was useful for the charity, its 18 federated delivery partners and the funders.

Impact
Identified areas for development linked to social impact measurement and helped FareShare become a more networked organisation.