An evaluability assessment of the LGBTQ+ Action Plan for Wales

The plan aims to make Wales the most LGBTQ+ friendly nation in Europe, ensuring the rights and well-being of all LGBTQ+ individuals are respected, protected, and fulfilled. It has over 40 actions for the Welsh Government, public bodies, and partners to deliver to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people across Wales.

In that context, Alma Economics was commissioned by the Welsh Government to assess how the LGBTQ+ Action Plan for Wales should be evaluated.

Following a detailed literature review, we interviewed 50 stakeholders – including dozens of Welsh Government civil servants and LGBTQ+ organisations and experts. Following the thematic analysis of the interviews, we produced a theory of change and collected metrics which can be used to support the implementation and evaluation of the LGBTQ+ Action Plan.

Our final recommendation is for a process evaluation to be conducted as soon as possible and for a mixed-methods realist-inspired impact evaluation to be conducted over the coming years. It called for an emphasis on in-depth qualitative interviews to capture the diverse lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people across the country but also suggested 21 recommendations to strengthen the quantitative evidence base available during the impact evaluation.

Find out more here.