1: Are evaluations respecting inclusivity? (Do you consider the concept of inclusive evaluation always respected during design and actual evaluations of projects and programs)?
I do not consider the concept of inclusive evaluation always respected during design and- actual evaluations of projects and programs. Reasons include:
(i) Inclusivity is not mostly mainstreamed within the projects/programs to be evaluated right from their inception and preparation stage; (ii) Evaluation ToRs rarely include/attach importance of the need for inclusivity, due to : (a) to less understanding/awareness of the diverse group of people’s disabilities; and (b) budget and time limitation, given the often short time and budget allocated to projects/programs to be evaluated, this is regardless of the size of the project/programs.
For example, there are cases that five and more year projects, with large geographic coverage are planned to be evaluated within say 10 days or so, with a lot of rush. This happens both for mid and end term evaluations. In such cases let alone to rightly include relevant people with disabilities (which include their care takers and or responsible organizations), even adequate participatory discussions and decision taking with people without disabilities are compromised.
2: What hinders full involvement of people with disabilities in projects and program evaluations? Please share personal experiences.
Lack/inadequate care takers/ representative organizations which voice for people with disability to fully involve in evaluations;
Lack/inadequate tools for ease of communication with evaluators;
Lack/inadequate awareness of people with disabilities of their right to be involved in evaluations.
3: How could Evaluators mitigate the risks associated with absence of inclusive evaluations specifically for people living with disabilities in our communities?
Improve their understanding of the importance of the inclusion of people living with disabilities in evaluations;
Be committed to be voice for the voice less/ the people with disabilities;
Sustained advocacy with this regard and sustained informed move to the designing of guidelines for the inclusion of people living with disabilities in evaluations.
RE: Disability inclusion in evaluation
My comment to the ongoing discussion
1: Are evaluations respecting inclusivity?
(Do you consider the concept of inclusive evaluation always respected during design and actual evaluations of projects and programs)?
(i) Inclusivity is not mostly mainstreamed within the projects/programs to be evaluated right from their inception and preparation stage;
(ii) Evaluation ToRs rarely include/attach importance of the need for inclusivity, due to : (a) to less understanding/awareness of the diverse group of people’s disabilities; and (b) budget and time limitation, given the often short time and budget allocated to projects/programs to be evaluated, this is regardless of the size of the project/programs.
For example, there are cases that five and more year projects, with large geographic coverage are planned to be evaluated within say 10 days or so, with a lot of rush. This happens both for mid and end term evaluations. In such cases let alone to rightly include relevant people with disabilities (which include their care takers and or responsible organizations), even adequate participatory discussions
and decision taking with people without disabilities are compromised.
2: What hinders full involvement of people with disabilities in projects and program evaluations?
Please share personal experiences.
3: How could Evaluators mitigate the risks associated with absence of inclusive evaluations specifically for people living with disabilities in our communities?