This study considers to what extent quality of life criteria, as defined in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) well-being framework, could be applied in evaluations of financial assistance programmes. Examining the impact of programmes on the social fabric, the environment, and governance arrangements can broaden the measure of successes and failures of assistance programmes beyond economic performance. Giving prominence to quality of life criteria sheds new light on the unintended consequences of crisis resolution measures and encourages the reconsideration of programme evaluations’ boundaries. Where underpinned by longitudinal data, this approach could provide insights to address new policy challenges such as climate change and social inequalities.