Research & Methodology
The ideas that inform CAPITALiiSE.
A transparent view of the conceptual foundations, supplementary guidance and platform-specific methods behind the assessment journey.
Method version 1.0 · Last reviewed October 2026
How to read this page
Research-informed, not independently validated
CAPITALiiSE brings together ideas from systems thinking, asset-based community development, mission-oriented innovation, evaluation and impact management. The references below show which sources inform different parts of the platform.
Research theme
Systems & Strategic Direction
Understanding systems, persistent conditions and shared direction before selecting interventions.
Göran Ingvar Broman & Karl-Henrik Robèrt
A framework for strategic sustainable development
A foundation for understanding systems, defining desired conditions and considering strategic actions.
Relevance to CAPITALiiSE
Informs the way an assessment frames ecosystem context, desired outcomes and a path from present conditions to action.
John Kania, Mark Kramer & Peter Senge
The Water of Systems Change
Examines the conditions holding problems in place and the need for funders to consider their own practices.
Relevance to CAPITALiiSE
Informs attention to relationships, power, policies, practices and underlying assumptions when documenting constraints.
Mariana Mazzucato
Mission-oriented innovation policies: challenges and opportunities
Supports organising innovation around societal challenges and considering how complementary interventions shape markets.
Relevance to CAPITALiiSE
Informs the use of a shared funding objective and the comparison of interventions that may contribute to a common direction.
Research theme
Community Assets & Participation
Recognising existing capabilities and making the intended level of community influence explicit.
John P. Kretzmann & John L. McKnight
Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community’s Assets
Supports beginning with community skills, relationships and resources rather than documenting needs alone.
Relevance to CAPITALiiSE
Informs the recording of existing actors, capabilities, assets, relationships and community ownership.
Susan Michie, Maartje M. van Stralen & Robert West
The behaviour change wheel: A new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions
COM-B helps examine capability, opportunity and motivation around a specific behaviour or participation challenge.
Relevance to CAPITALiiSE
Offers a useful lens when analysts describe participation barriers and enabling conditions; CAPITALiiSE does not implement COM-B as a scored module.
International Association for Public Participation
IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation
Clarifies the public’s intended role in a participation process, from informing through to empowering.
Relevance to CAPITALiiSE
Helps users describe actual community influence rather than treating consultation as shared decision-making.
Research theme
Assessment & Impact
Applying criteria in context while keeping impact, contribution, risk and uncertainty visible.
OECD
Better Criteria for Better Evaluation: Revised Evaluation Criteria Definitions and Principles for Use
Defines six evaluation lenses: relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability.
Relevance to CAPITALiiSE
Provides broad lenses for contextual judgement. CAPITALiiSE’s four recipient dimensions are a separate platform-specific rubric.
OECD
Applying Evaluation Criteria Thoughtfully
Supports adapting evaluation questions to context and avoiding mechanical application of criteria.
Relevance to CAPITALiiSE
Reinforces that scores support structured discussion and should be interpreted with evidence and judgement.
Impact Frontiers
Five Dimensions of Impact
Structures consideration of what changes, who experiences it, how much, contribution and risk.
Relevance to CAPITALiiSE
Offers prompts for considering expected impact and uncertainty; it does not verify claims recorded in an assessment.
Research theme
Capital & Additionality
Examining whether an instrument suits the need, recipient and development rationale.
OECD
OECD DAC Blended Finance Guidance 2025
Addresses development rationale, additionality, transparency and local priorities when development finance mobilises further finance.
Relevance to CAPITALiiSE
Can inform blended-finance judgement where relevant; it is not used as a universal matching formula for funding requests.
Platform-Specific Methods
How the current assessment works
These methods are implemented by CAPITALiiSE. They are informed by the ideas above but are not published frameworks reproduced verbatim.
Recipient assessment
Alignment, organisational capacity, readiness, and community ownership and accountability may each be rated from 1 to 5. The displayed average is unweighted and supports discussion; it is not an automated approval.
Capital fit
A separate 1–5 analyst judgement records how well a funding instrument or non-financial support option suits the documented need and potential recipient. Eligibility, conditions and rationale remain visible alongside it.
Evidence and uncertainty
Evidence items are labelled Unverified, Partially verified or Verified. Open questions remain visible, and missing evidence is not treated as confirmation.
Human review
Analysts prepare recommendations and authorised reviewers can record decisions and follow-up notes. CAPITALiiSE supports judgement; people remain responsible for decisions.