Behind the glossy cover: six reflections on communicating evaluations
- Document d’orientation
Getting Evidence Quicker: the development of Rapid Evaluations in selected African Countries
This brief by Twende Mbele looks at Rapid Evaluations in the public sector of selected African Countries. Rapid evaluations are intended to reduce the costs of evaluation projects and the time they take, by producing a result that can feed into policy and practice quickly, but yet is sufficiently... 
Evaluation in times of Covid-19Making voices count - Gathering community feedback in times of remote evaluation
From the EvalForward communityEvalForward Talks - Remote evaluations during COVID-19: how can we cope and adapt? What are the best solutions?
Evaluation in times of Covid-19How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected evaluation design?
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions on travel and face-to-face meetings have had a major impact on evaluation design.
VidéoEvaluation: les ficelles du métier
Dans cette vidéo, Olivier Cossée du Bureau de l’évaluation de la FAO, donne des conseils pratiques sur comment combiner approches qualitatives et quantitatives dans les études d’impact.
Evaluation questions the value of aid interventions. We need to keep warranting the value of evaluation.
As evaluators, do we know what value we bring? The question is not new, nurtured by the rise of the ‘post-truth politics” (KALPOKAS, 2019). Despite the many discussions on the relevance and utility of evaluations, this issue is not resolved and merits attention.
External coherence of agriculture interventions
Lack of external coherence in agriculture projects can cause antagonism among interventions or implementation strategies and annihilate the results and progress achieved. This often leads to strategic behaviour (bias) on the part of beneficiaries.
We are evaluating a moving picture
We interviewed Julia Betts, independent evaluation consultant, who is currently supporting WFP evaluation activities related to the response to COVID-19.
Document d’orientationEngaging your audience. Creative communications for evaluation dissemination.
This interactive report has been produced to disseminate the findings of the study on evaluation dissemination at DG DEVCO, EU Delegations and non-EU organisations around the world such as the Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, World...
Document d’orientationEvaluation in Hard-to-Reach Areas
This paper presents an overview of innovative technologies to overcome the obstacles to evaluation in fragile and conflict affected states and in hard-to reach-areas. It is based on lessons learned from a series of conferences held by the European Union DG DEVCO’s Evaluation Support Service in 2019...- WebinarOnline
What’s new in developing evidence products to support decision-makers?
Rapid evaluation to measure the impact of the COVID pandemic in mountainous areas
How can we make rapid evaluations of the impact of COVID on communities in order to be able to be proactive and/or react in a timely manner?- WebinarOnline
EvalXchange - a festival of learning
- TrainingFormation à distance
L'essentiel de l'évaluation
Evaluation in times of Covid-19Will Covid-19 spark change in the conduct of evaluations?
In the third and final part of our interview with leaders and managers currently engaged in humanitarian-development evaluations, we asked how the conduct of evaluations was evolving as a result of Covid-19, and what opportunities it might now usher in? (see part 1 here and part 2 here).
Evaluation in times of Covid-19What challenges does Covid-19 present to independent and credible evaluations?
In the second of our three-part interview with leaders and managers currently engaged in humanitarian-development evaluations, we asked how the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting the practice of evaluation, and where to draw the Do No Harm line (see first part here).
Racism in the field of evaluation
Being in New York during the COVID pandemic and witnessing the recent Black Lives Movement rallies made me reflect more on racism. I find it comforting that EvalForward is a safe space where we can discuss ideas openly.
Synthèse de l’évaluationLessons from Evaluations: Responding to Food Security during Covid 19
Under the framework of the Covid-19 Evaluation Coalition, Global Affairs Canada, FAO, IFAD, WFP and other agencies identified key lessons that should inform food security and nutrition interventions during covid-19. As a follow-up to this initiative, FAO, IFAD, UNIDO and WFP are launching a rapid...
RapportWFP Annual Evaluation Review 2019
The WFP Annual Evaluation Report 2019 highlights the evidence generated by centralized and decentralized evaluations carried out during the year. It also reveals the state of the evaluation function: in terms of evaluation coverage, quality, use, funding and partnerships. This year's report shows a...
Evaluation in times of Covid-19How is the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions on movement affecting the conduct of evaluations?
Launching a new series on Evaluation in times of Covid-19, this is the first of a three-part interview bringing together reflections from leaders and managers currently engaged in humanitarian-development evaluations on how the pandemic is affecting the practice of evaluation.
Addressing disability inclusion through evaluations in agriculture and rural development
Despite the significant challenges faced by persons with disabilities living in rural areas, there is comparatively less experience in addressing disability inclusion through evaluations related to agriculture, rural development and food security.
Can visual thinking facilitate evaluation? WFP’s innovative approach to validation workshops
Since the advent of the Internet, we have been living in a time of information explosion. As the amount of available data grows, managing all of that material becomes more difficult, which can lead to information overload.
Document d’orientationEmbedding Evaluation in Voluntary National Reviews in Africa: A Guide
This guide is a result of a partnership between UNICEF's Evaluation Office and CLEAR Anglophone Africa- TrainingOnline
EvalPartners e-Courses programme in Development Evaluation
RapportMeasuring what matters in agriculture and food systems
A synthesis of the results and recommendations of TEEB for Agriculture and Food’s Scientific and Economic Foundations Report This report serves as a synthesis of the 2018 Scientific and Economic Foundations report and proposes a new and comprehensive Evaluation Framework in the field of agriculture...
Is SDG Evaluation just business as usual?
Yes, SDG Evaluation could be considered business as usual, if that’s how we see the SDGs. But can we really afford to treat evaluation of progress towards the SDGs like all evaluations that have gone before? The ambitions underlying Agenda 2030 make it clear that we cannot.
How do we adapt our evaluation approach to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic?
Evaluators may find themselves having to adapt their approach to the new reality of the COVID pandemic in the short- and medium-term. Please share your experience and suggestions on how to adapt evalaution approaches.
Document d’orientationUtilization Focused Evaluation. A primer for evaluators.
Utilization Focused Evaluation (UFE) facilitates a learning process in which people in the real world apply evaluation findings and experiences to their work. The focus is on intended users. UFE does not prescribe any specific content, method, or theory. It is a guiding framework, rather than a...
From the EvalForward communityHow useful are theories of change in development programmes and projects?
In the past few years we have witnessed an increased application of theories of change (ToC) in the design and evaluation of development projects.
Document d’orientationThe road to results
This text, authored by Linda G. Morra Imas and Ray C. Rist, is intended as a tool for use in building development evaluation capacity. It aims to help development evaluators think about and explore the new evaluation architecture and especially to design and conduct evaluations that focus on results...
Document d’orientationEvaluation to connect national priorities with the SDGs
Local and national evaluators need support if they are to use SDG evaluation as an opportunity to improve policies and programmes closer to home, applying tailored approaches. This guide aims to provide this support and motivate evaluation that embodies the principles of Agenda 2030. The guide is...
Document d’orientationRevised OECD DAC evaluation criteria
The document "Better criteria for better evaluation" describes how the OECD DAC Network on Development Evaluation (EvalNet) revisited the definitions and use of the OECD DAC evaluation criteria in 2018-2019. It lays out adapted definitions for relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and...
In evaluation, there is no substitute for good listening skills
We spoke to WFP evaluation team leader Nick Maunder about leadership challenges, engaging affected populations in evaluations and the personal rewards of working in the humanitarian-development sector.
Youth in agriculture: what lessons can we draw from evaluations?
For agriculture to grow and innovate we need young people to engage. However, the average age of agriculture workers is increasing. What can evaluation tell us on the rising age in agriculture work and on how to address this issue?
Rapport2019 Annual Report on Results and Impact of IFAD Operations
The Independent Office of Evaluation of IFAD is pleased to present the 2019 Annual Report on Results and Impact of IFAD Operations (ARRI). The 2019 ARRI presents a synthesis of IFAD’s performance and highlights results and systemic issues from independent evaluations conducted in 2018. The...- WebinarWebinar
Webinar: Use of synthesis and meta-analysis in development evaluation
- WorkshopIFAD headquarters, Rome, Italy
Learning event: 2019 Annual Report on Results and Impact of IFAD Operations
RapportEVALUATION FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE
Since 2015, the world has shown great enthusiasm for the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.However, after more than four years since the launch of the Agenda, there are at least two threatening challenges for sustainable development. This report not only looks at challenges ahead but also uses...
Evaluating Priority SDGs: Nigeria moving ahead
In Nigeria, we have begun evaluation of our progress towards achievement of specific Sustainable Development Goals on which our country has decided to focus.
Document d’orientationOED Capacity Development Evaluation Framework
This document serves as guidance on how the FAO Office of Evaluation can assess the processes and outcomes of FAO capacity development interventions. Although primarily targeting evaluation practitioners in FAO, the framework can be used by anyone engaged in project design, implementation and...- TrainingE-Learning
Evaluation and the 2030 Agenda
Supporting smallhoder agriculture: what are your experiences in using evaluation?
Please share your views and examples on improving smallholder projects with evaluation.
Document techniqueBraking the Mould. Alternative approaches to monitoring and evaluation
This paper looks at a range of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) innovations that are designed specifically to provide input to ongoing iterative decision-making and learning at the project level. It identifies three key areas for potential innovation: 1) timing of M&E data provision; 2) flexibility...
Fail Better, Fail Forward – How learning organizations learn from their mistakes
The digital economy has revolutionized business models in a way that was inconceivable just a few years earlier.
RapportWFP Annual Evaluation Report 2018
WFP annual evaluation report explains the purpose of evaluation and how it is evolving in line with WFP’s strategic direction and trends in WFP’s operating environment, providing an overview of centralized and decentralized evaluations completed, conducted and planned in the period 2018 to 2019. In...
Document d’orientation10 things to know about evaluation
This publication presents the essential 'things to know' about evaluation in 10 infographics. It was prepared by ODI's Research and Policy in Development Programme (RAPID) in support of the International Year of Evaluation 2015.
Why use facilitation in evaluation?
Soft skills are essential assets for every evaluator; we all know it. What we might not realize is how far soft skills can go in supporting the evaluation process increasing its effectiveness and ultimately enhancing the evaluation use.
From the EvalForward communityWhat can evaluation do in terms of capacity development?
The learning benefits of evaluations can go a long way in in developing capacities. EvalForward recently hosted a discussion on the connection between evaluation and capacity development.
Dissemination of decentralized evaluation results through an innovative and participatory approach: drawings
When communicating with rural communities with their own dialect, WFP Colombia gets creative, with pens, paint and paper.- WebinarOnline
Evaluation and Complexity in the SDGs era - Part 2
OuvrageEvaluation for Agenda 2030
Edited by the International Development Evaluation Association - IDEAS, this book presents an authoritative overview of the role of evaluation in generating evidence for informed decision making and learning to advance sustainable development. Agenda 2030 includes the Sustainable Development Goals...- TrainingJohannesburg, South Africa
DEPTA - Development Evaluation Training Programme in Africa
What can evaluations do in terms of capacity development?
We are looking for practical examples of evaluations that helped developing capacities of evaluands and other actors, including beneficiaries. If you carried out participatory evaluations, did those lead to any clear development of capacities (even soft skills?) And did you evaluate the capacity
From the EvalForward communityIs this really an output?
As an evaluator, I often face situations in which results, labelled as outputs in project documents, really represent changes in the lives of beneficiaries rather than deliverables under project control. Evaluation handbooks often use the latter definition of “output” and offer standard evaluation- TrainingIstambul, Turkey
PRiME Impact Evaluation Course
Document d’orientationChecklist for Evaluation Recommendations by Osvaldo Feinstein
The purpose of this checklist is to guide the process of formulating and delivering evaluation recommendations. It is oriented to evaluators conducting evaluations, but may also be used by commissioners and/or managers of evaluation to help them clarify their expectations concerning recommendations...
Is this really an output? Addressing terminology differences between evaluators and project managers
Did you experience challenges due to differences in the use of terminology between people who planned the project and evaluators when doing evaluations? And if you did, how did you handle them?- TrainingBern, Switzerland
IPDET - International Program for Development Evaluation Training
- WorkshopManila, Philippines
The evaluation is for you. Increasing evaluation utilization and ownership through stakeholder engagement...
Who teaches and learns in an evaluation?
The article by Gadotti entitled the “Global Impact of Freire’s Pedagogy” is a good read.
AutreDesigning Robust M&E Systems: Blending in Tools and Approaches for Performance Management
This document was shared with EvalForward by Zahid Shabbir, M&E professional/trainer from Pakistan. It provides an overview of the key features of M&E systems.
What about stakeholders? Evaluation of social protection programs.
Have you ever been involved in the evaluation of social protection programs? What is the approach to assessing such programs? What are the key elements that any expert would be looking for in social protection activities/programs?
Tenue d’événementRevisiting independence, objectivity and the critically reflective role of evaluation for the SDG era
The Wilton Park event on Revisiting independence, objectivity, and the critically reflective role of evaluation for the SDG era took place from 25 to 27 June in West Sussex, UK. The purpose of this dialogue was to enable a high level, practical but informal debate, addressing conceptual and...
Tenue d’événementPeople, Planet and Progress in the SDG Era
The Independent Evaluation Office and the Government of Turkey co-hosted the 2017 International Conference on National Evaluation Capacities (NEC) in Istanbul, in collaboration with the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS and the European Evaluation Society (EES). The theme of the conference was...
How to Measure the Impact of Monitoring and Evaluation Work
I am trying to think how best we can measure the impact of monitoring and evaluation work and would be grateful if you could share your experience and ideas with me. What is your take on how to measure the impact or changes that are informed by the monitoring and evaluation?
From the EvalForward communityWhat are your evaluation challenges?
The latest discussion in the EvalForward CoP covered challenges that evaluations encounter in the agriculture, rural development and food security sectors and beyond. Here is a summary of the issues emerging and ways forward suggested.
Challenges of evaluation
What constraints do you encounter during the different evaluations of programs and interventions on rural development, agriculture and food security? How do you get around them? And which are the ones you cannot get around?
The issues facing global agriculture
What aspects should always be included in evaluation Terms of Reference of agriculture-based interventions?
Developmental evaluation
What is developmental evaluation and how does it differ from other program evaluation approaches?