Each Spider project has an integrated research component that will provide quality assurances or checks at periodic stages of the project. This ensures the participation of the target groups, whose opinions and objections can be valuable input to the ensuing stages of the implementation process.

What this also means is that monitoring and evaluating the project takes place during and after the project life-cycle. An integrated research approach entails baseline studies and needs assessments of the target groups that will benefit from the initiative.

Results from the baseline and needs assessment serve as bench marks for evaluating the impact of the initiative through the project life-cycle and beyond. Researchers and/or Monitoring and Evaluation experts from partner countries are commissioned to carry out the results follow up.