The use of Outcome Harvesting in a theory-based and learning-oriented evaluation: some considerations arising from a field-research in Italy

Outcome harvesting is not normally a method applied to evaluate complex poverty reduction initiatives in more economically developed countries. This paper discusses the evaluation of a public-private partnership aimed at reducing 'educational poverty' among youth in seven Italian regions, based on a combination of two participatory approaches: theory-oriented evaluation and OH. This evaluation framework made it possible to compare different narratives of the project, which were focused on the intended outcomes of the initiatives and the retrospective documentation and analysis of behavioral changes in the social actors of the project. The comparison between the initial expectations of stakeholders and the contextual narratives collected with the OH has created an interesting learning process and allowed a better understanding of the outcomes and potential impacts of the project at a regional level.