"This study considers the state of research on evaluation that includes the social dimension and the methods used; illustrates the evolution of approaches for evaluation in the field of development cooperation; shows the evaluation practice in Germany and the difficulties organizations face while using inadequate methods to analyse the impact of their work." "A new method of impact assessment of poverty alleviation projects (MAPP) is also presented and underpinned empirically. MAPP is based on a multidimensional conception of poverty and shows how the social dimension can be operationalized with the aid of four key social processes: improvement of livelihoods, access to resources, expansion of knowledge and participation in rights. MAPP is a participatory and process-oriented tool and makes it possible to determine whether the poverty of the target groups has actually been alleviated and, if so, how the benefits of the project have been distributed among the various social groups, for example by gender and socio-professional categories."--Jacket.