How to check AI output before it reaches a donor
Nov 08 2026 · Method
The verification routine that turns an AI draft into something you can defend — in under an hour.
To check AI output before it reaches a donor, run a fixed routine: label every sentence as evidence or inference, open and confirm every cited source, trace every figure to a document, and cut anything you cannot source. Then write a short provenance ledger (claim, source, type) and have a named person sign off. This is the method from the free handbook, applied to reports. It takes under an hour for a typical report and it is the difference between a draft that is defensible and one that is not.
What is the core routine for checking AI output?
The routine is simple but must be followed every time. It has five steps.
- Label each sentence as evidence or inference.
- Open and confirm every cited source.
- Trace every figure to a document you can point to.
- Cut or mark anything unsourced.
- Record a provenance ledger and get a named person to sign off.
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Written for M&E professionals. Not a guarantee of accuracy — always verify every claim against its source, and let a named human sign off. Get the free handbook.