There is growing demand for research evaluations that provide evidence of benefits and impacts on policy, practice, and population health. Yet assessing the impact of policies, health programs, and interventions in the real world is complex. This has led to a proliferation of evaluation Theories, Models and Frameworks making it difficult for researchers, managers and planners to select specific tools for their evaluation and impact analysis [6]. There are limited tools and support available to undertake an impact analysis at the different stages of implementation, and the terminology is typically unclear with often ambiguous terms and concepts with limited international consensus. We addressed this gap and developed an impact analysis framework which has been tested over 13 years in more than 30 projects in 10 countries.

We use an ecosystem evaluation approach for any policy/program/service/initiative/product implemented in the real world with indicators for all domains in the logic for change — resources, processes (and context), results. The GIAF provides tools for the impact analysis of implementation across 16 domains.

The Global Impact Analytics Framework (GIAF) toolkit provides:

• A toolkit for evaluators to assess the impact of implementing a project (the process domains and contextual factors)
• Includes a taxonomy (knowledge map) [1], a Glossary (for a common language and understanding) [2], checklists for data gathering and ladders or scales for measuring.
• Enables translation of qualitative and quantitative information to a numeric value.
• Enables comparisons across multi-site or heterogeneous multi-project evaluations, thereby generating learnings for all stakeholders.

A mini impact analysis may involve using GIAF tools across 2–3 domains, or for a maxi, the use of all tools to measure across 16 domains. The GIAF is registered by the developers under Creative Commons.

• Luis Salvador-Carulla
• Sue Lukersmith
• Sally Fitzpatrick
• Cindy Woods

For further information or to contact the study team please email:
sue.lukersmith@canberra.edu.au or Luis.salvador-carulla@canberra.edu.au

1. Salvador-Carulla, L., Lukersmith, S., Woods, C., Alonso-Trujillo, F., Chen, T., GIAF Taxonomy Expert Panel Group (Group co-authors). (2026). A taxonomy of the process in implementation science: the Global Impact Analytics Framework (GIAF). Implement Sci Commun 7, 26.
2. Lukersmith, S., Salvador-Carulla, L., Colosia, M.R.G., Woods, C., Seilinger, E., Castelpietra, G., GIAF Taxonomy and Glossary Expert Panel Group (Group co-authors). (2026). A shared terminology for implementation research impact: Global Impact Analytics Framework (GIAF) Glossary. Implement Sci Commun 7, 97.
3. Lukersmith, S., Woods, C., Salvador-Carulla, L., Niyonsenga, T., Mohanty, I., Gutierrez-Colosia, M.R., ... & Büsst, C. J. (2025). A comparative evaluation of 23 projects on mental health and wellbeing for veterans and first responders. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 141, 152599. 
4. Lukersmith, S., Salvador-Carulla, L., Woods, C., Niyonsenga, T., Gutierrez-Colosia, M.R., Mohanty, I., Garcia-Alonso, C.R., Diaz-Milanes, D., Salinas-Perez, J.A., Davey, R., Aryani, A. (2025). An ecosystem approach to the evaluation and impact analysis of heterogeneous preventive and/or early interventions projects for veterans and first responders in seven countries. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 138, 152578. 
5. Salvador-Carulla, L., Lukersmith, S., Woods, C.E., Chen, T., de Miquel, C. (2025). A protocol using mixed methods for the impact analysis of the implementation of the EMPOWER project: An eHealth intervention to promote mental health and well-being in European workplaces. BMJ Open, 15(4):e082219. 
6. Lukersmith, S., Woods, C., Sarma, H., de Miquel, C., & Salvador-Carulla, L. (2025). Determining the process components of impact assessment in health and social program implementation: A scoping review of theories, models and frameworks. Public Health, 240, 41-47. 
7. Woods, C., Lukersmith, S., & Salvador-Carulla, L. (2024). A mapping review of Proof-of-Concept in mental health implementation research using the TRL framework: A need for a better focus and conceptual clarification. BMJ Open, 14(8), e080078. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080078  
8. Salvador-Carulla, L., Woods, C., de Miquel, C., & Lukersmith, S. (2024). Adaptation of the Technology Readiness Levels for impact assessment in implementation sciences: The TRL-IS checklist. Heliyon, 10(9), e29930. .
9. Salvador-Carulla, L., Fernandez, A., Sarma, H., Mendoza, J., Wands, M., Gandre, C., ... & Lukersmith, S. (2021). Impact of Ed-LinQ: A Public Policy Strategy to Facilitate Engagement between Schools and the Mental Health Care System in Queensland, Australia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(15), 7924. 
10. Romero-Lopez-Alberca, C., Alonso-Trujillo, F., Almenara-Abellan, J. L., Salinas-Perez, J. A., Gutierrez-Colosia, M. R., Gonzalez-Caballero, J. L., ... & Salvador-Carulla, L. (2021). A semiautomated classification system for producing service directories in social and health care (DESDE-AND): maturity assessment study. Journal of medical Internet research, 23(3), e24930.
11. Alonso-Trujillo, F., Salinas-Pérez, J. A., Gutiérrez-Colosía, M. R., González-Caballero, J. L., Pinzón Pulido, S., Jiménez González, S., ... & Salvador-Carulla, L. (2021). Evaluación del impacto de un plan multisectorial de promoción de la salud y el bienestar social en Andalucía. (Impact assessment of a multisectoral plan for the promotion of health and social wellbeing in Andalusia (Spain) Gaceta Sanitaria, 34, 615-623. 
12. Salinas-Perez, J. A., Gutiérrez-Colosia, M. R., Romero Lopez-Alberca, C., Poole, M., Rodero-Cosano, M. L., Garcia-Alonso, C. R., & Salvador-Carulla, L. (2020). Everything is on the map: Integrated Mental Health Atlases as support tools for service planning. SESPAS Report 2020. Gac. Sanit, 34, 11-19.
13. Chung, Y., Salvador-Carulla, L., Salinas-Pérez, J. A., Uriarte-Uriarte, J. J., Iruin-Sanz, A., & García-Alonso, C. R. (2018). Use of the self-organising map network (SOMNet) as a decision support system for regional mental health planning. Health research policy and systems, 16(1), 1-17.
    
14. Lukersmith, S (2017), A Taxonomy of Case Management: Development, Dissemination, and Impact. The Sydney eScholarship Repository, Post graduate theses/Sydney Digital Theses (Open Access)

Health and social sectors

• Disability
• Mental health
• Cancer
• Drug and Alcohol

Organisations

• Queensland Mental Health Commission
•  Department of Health Osakidetza (Basque), Spain
• Regional Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Regional Government of Andalucía, Spain
• icare NSW 
• Movember Foundation
• International Research groups - EMPOWER Platform consortium.

Countries

• Australia
• Europe (Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Spain)
• New Zealand
• North America (Canada and USA)
• United Kingdom

There has been no funding available for the GIAF development.