Monitoring, evaluation and learning.
The Zambia Road Safety Trust uses a practical Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning framework to test whether road-safety and sustainable-mobility projects reduce risk, strengthen local systems and remain useful after funding ends.
Discuss an evaluation
Baseline firstMeasure before major work begins
Claims matched to proofNo impact language without impact evidence
Follow-up built inCheck whether results and systems last
Examples of measured evidence
These examples illustrate the evaluation approach. For the project overview, see Programmes and Impact; for project narratives, see Success Stories. Infrastructure ratings and survey findings do not establish a reduction in casualties.
Kizito Primary School, Lusaka
Lower observed vehicle speeds
Baseline: 22 November 2023, average speed 32.7 km/h across 40 observed vehicles.
Follow-up: 29 February 2024, average speed 17.7 km/h across 27 vehicles, following school-zone improvements.
The VTI study involved ZRST and public authorities. These are small observation samples taken under different conditions; they do not establish a casualty reduction.
Lusaka walkability study
A documented pedestrian baseline
Fieldwork: 19–23 December 2023 across ten study areas.
Published finding: 1,137 participants recorded 1,401 walking experiences and 4,719 environmental observations. Of the experiences, 64.9% were negative or raised concerns.
The May 2024 ZRST, Walk21 and TRANS-SAFE report provides a baseline for planning. It does not report a follow-up improvement.
Kalingalinga Primary School, Lusaka
Improved infrastructure safety rating
Before and after: the school’s Star Rating for Schools increased from 2.9 to 4.4 stars following infrastructure improvements.
Reported: 18 December 2023. The source does not state the individual assessment dates.
The UN Road Safety Fund-supported project involved UNDP, public authorities and ZRST. The rating models infrastructure risk; it is not a measured reduction in crashes or injuries.
The ZRST LASTS Framework
A proportionate process for small projects, major programmes and independent client assignments.
Locate the risk
Define who is exposed, where the danger occurs and which system failures can lead to death or serious injury.
Agree the causal case
Set out how the work is expected to create change, the assumptions involved and the claims the evidence must support.
Set the evidence plan
Agree the baseline, indicators, comparison approach, tools, responsibilities and safeguards before delivery begins.
Track and test
Collect consistent data, check its quality, test progress and change course when evidence shows that an approach is weak.
Sustain and share
Check whether assets, budgets, skills and management controls remain in use after funding ends.
Four different claims. Four different proof thresholds.
Strong language is reserved for strong designs. When a comparison is not credible, we report observed change or plausible contribution, not causal impact.
Delivery
What was completed, where, when and to what standard.
Observed change
What changed from the baseline using the same measurement method.
Contribution
Whether the evidence supports a credible ZRST role after other influences are tested.
Impact
A causal effect claimed only when the design provides a credible comparison or counterfactual.
Evidence that sits closer to real safety.
Indicator sets are selected for the project, its scale and the decision the evidence must support.
- 01Vehicle speeds and compliance
- 02Pedestrian and cyclist movement
- 03Crossing, yielding and helmet use
- 04Training skill and workplace practice
- 05Fleet risk controls and incident rates
- 06Infrastructure quality and maintenance
- 07Policy approval, funding and use
- 08Safe access to low-carbon transport
Monitoring and evaluation services
ZRST can design the evidence system, evaluate a programme or test whether the benefits remained after project close.
Project monitoring
A results chain, indicator plan, tools, dashboard, field verification and close-out review.
Outcome evaluation
Baseline and endline measurement, mixed methods, comparison sites where feasible and a management response.
Impact and sustainability
Evaluation design, causal analysis where feasible and technical review. Independence, specialist support and follow-up dates are agreed for each assignment.
Planning a road-safety or sustainable-mobility project?
Speak with ZRST before delivery begins. A sound baseline and a realistic claim are harder to recover after the work is complete.
info@zambianroadsafety.org