Effective socio-economic service delivery is vital for alleviating poverty in developing countries. Increased financial support without complementary investment in service delivery mechanisms often results in little or no impact. This paper contributes to the discussion on how to maximize the impact of agricultural R&D. The case study examined is the South African Beef Profit Partnerships project that is underpinned by the Continuous Improvement and Innovation process. The evidence is presented using a ‘trident’ evaluation approach: a description and analysis of the process followed; the measurement of the outcomes achieved (impact); and the perspectives of the stakeholders involved.