Shared measures to achieve shared outcomes: lessons from Central Appalachia

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This paper introduces a wealth creation approach to development, and describes how the Central Appalachian Network has used an outcome-based measurement process to define and measure progress toward shared goals for seven forms of community wealth. The wealth creation approach to measurement leads to measures of outcome, not outputs, that have meaning within the context of the work of individual organizations and the network overall. Measurement applied consistently across a network of independent organizations seeking to build wealth creation value chains creates shared language and understanding, and improves capacity to target resources where they can have the greatest impact to create constructive change in their region and communities.