Read again the Real World Case at the start of the chapter. In the extract on ‘How do we judge the impact of our work’, the report sets out the tools used to monitor, evaluate, assess and learn from stakeholders. What is the role of accounting in each of the tools set out in that extract?

Data from Real World case

Oxfam: meeting users’ needs Extracts from Annual Report and Accounts Purpose and charitable objects Oxfam Great Britain’s purpose is to help create lasting solutions to the injustice of poverty.

As stated in its Memorandum of Association, the objects for which Oxfam is established for the public benefit are:

• to prevent and relieve poverty and to protect vulnerable people, including through humanitarian intervention;

• to advance sustainable development;

• to promote human rights, equality and diversity, in particular where to do so contributes to the prevention and relief of poverty;

• in all cases working anywhere in the world.

Highlights

11.6 million people reached directly in 51 countries 

Nearly 9 million people supported in 31 humanitarian emergencies 

1,168 grants to 737 partner organisations 

450,000 people in the UK made a regular donation 

How do we judge the impact of our work?

Oxfam is committed to ensuring that, in all that we do, we are accountable to those with whom we work, from our programme partners, communities and donors to other stakeholders such as our staff, volunteers, or those that we campaign through and with. We use several tools to monitor, evaluate, assess and learn from our stakeholders, including:

• reporting data on the numbers of people and communities reached by our programmes 

• completing review exercises to understand – and speak about – our outcome achievements as well as our challenges, and how we deal with them

• undertaking evaluations to assess our overall strategies, test the core assumptions about how we contribute to social change, and assess our effectiveness in different contexts • consulting with key stakeholders to gather their insights and assessments about our overall efforts.

Our success in achieving this commitment to accountability is measured annually through our membership of, and compliance with, the International NGO Accountability Charter and International Aid Transparency Initiative. More detail on our accountability objectives and achievements is set out.

Accounting conventions 
Oxfam is a public benefit entity. The financial statements are prepared in compliance with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011, the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS 102), the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, and FRS 102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.