How is the baseline set and monitored?

Setting a reliable baseline is a complex task, and one which is vital to the success of your project. Without a well-established baseline, it becomes extremely difficult or even impossible to prove that your project has been a success – even if it has been! ​

With that in mind, here are our top tips for successfully setting a baseline:​

• Accurate Data Collection: Ensure that you have precise and up-to-date data on the current environmental parameters targeted by the project. If the data is not recent and clearly proven, it cannot be used to provide a realistic baseline. ​

• Relevant Benchmarking: Compare collected data to all relevant benchmarks, industry standards, or regulatory requirements to establish a meaningful reference point for assessing the impact and eventual success of your project.​

• Stakeholder Involvement: Involve all relevant stakeholders throughout the baseline-setting process when possible. This ensures you benefit from a diverse range of perspectives, and can address concerns in a timely fashion, ensuring transparency and increased support for the project.​

• Transparent Methodologies: Clearly document the methodologies, assumptions, and data sources used to set the baseline. Transparency ensures credibility and facilitates understanding among stakeholders and regulatory bodies.​

• Continuous Monitoring: Establish a system for ongoing monitoring to track changes in the baseline over time, not just the time it takes to set up the project. Continuous assessment provides essential feedback not only for the accountability and success of this project, but for future improvements and adaptation to changing global or social conditions.​