I would like to replace the initial questions for the position of M&E (MEAL, MEL…) responsable/officers/consultants at field or project/programme level and their room for manoeuvre to strongly reaffirm the adherence to norms and standards if there is not a strong back up from the independence function - making sure norms and standards make their way all down the line. It may not be a burning issue whenever an independent evaluation office is existing and functional. But if not, the field M&E position/officer turns into an interchangeable piece/pawn that may not feed the independent evaluation.
My view is that whenever a « norm and standard » issue is detected - the claim should be covered and driven by the independent evaluation function as the consultant is not in a position to push for long when marginalized or the contract is over. And if there is no independent evaluation department then peer exchange groups as this one or national and international evaluation associations could be the stage to bring all the concerns previously emitted in this thread and bring them one step further for the systematization of independent bodies.
This quote from Moises Schwartz (former director of the independent of the IMF) : "To be precise, when evaluation reports have pointed to instances in which the IMF has fallen short in its performance (the accountability element), the exercise turns into a quest to identify the reason for such behavior, and the findings and conclusions then contribute toward an enhanced organization (the learning element)."
May seems obvious by now and earned? What are your experiences?
This point I had missed is to what extent accountability is a pre-condition for any learning - within all previously expressed limits of fairness/impartiality » => but also clear limits to complaisance given the seriousness of issues we are facing - specifically thinking in the call for a faster and systemic adaptation to climate change.
RE: Neutrality-impartiality-independence. At which stage of the evaluation is each concept important?
Dear colleagues,
This discussion is surely very insightful.
I would like to replace the initial questions for the position of M&E (MEAL, MEL…) responsable/officers/consultants at field or project/programme level and their room for manoeuvre to strongly reaffirm the adherence to norms and standards if there is not a strong back up from the independence function - making sure norms and standards make their way all down the line. It may not be a burning issue whenever an independent evaluation office is existing and functional. But if not, the field M&E position/officer turns into an interchangeable piece/pawn that may not feed the independent evaluation.
My view is that whenever a « norm and standard » issue is detected - the claim should be covered and driven by the independent evaluation function as the consultant is not in a position to push for long when marginalized or the contract is over. And if there is no independent evaluation department then peer exchange groups as this one or national and international evaluation associations could be the stage to bring all the concerns previously emitted in this thread and bring them one step further for the systematization of independent bodies.
I would like to suggest this reading with inspiring insights from ADB, back from 2014 : Evaluation for Better Results - "Accountability and Learning: Two Sides of the Same Coin" https://www.ecgnet.org/sites/default/files/evaluation-for-better-result…;
This quote from Moises Schwartz (former director of the independent of the IMF) : "To be precise, when evaluation reports have pointed to instances in which the IMF has fallen short in its performance (the accountability element), the exercise turns into a quest to identify the reason for such behavior, and the findings and conclusions then contribute toward an enhanced organization (the learning element)."
May seems obvious by now and earned? What are your experiences?
This point I had missed is to what extent accountability is a pre-condition for any learning - within all previously expressed limits of fairness/impartiality » => but also clear limits to complaisance given the seriousness of issues we are facing - specifically thinking in the call for a faster and systemic adaptation to climate change.
Warm regards,
Sébastien Galéa