Thank you for sharing your challenges in carrying out rapid evaluations.
I am currently involved in a Real Time Evaluation (RTE) conducted by the FAO Office of Evaluation. Despite the fact that the methodology of this RTE has been designed to provide real-time feedback to FAO teams and partner organisations, it is in fact taking longer than initially anticipated. The reasons were more or less similar to those mentioned by Jennifer, namely bureaucracy processes being slow, recruitment of national staff, travel restrictions, among others.
Nevertheless, I believe that some adjustments could be made to the ‘regular’ way of conducting evaluations, to make the process more agile. This may eventually contribute towards providing feedback and recommendations more ‘real time’. Some ideas could be to (either/or):
Increase the communication flow with the relevant stakeholders /communities involved to provide regular updates on the evaluation process. Each update should also include a short overview of preliminary findings that emerged in that particular stage of the evaluation.
Organize periodical workshops to allow discussions on preliminary findings and conclusions with a wider audience and in a participatory manner, and use this opportunity to draw ideas for recommendations together with the audience.
Create brief communication products to disseminate preliminary findings and recommendations throughout the evaluation process and not just at the end of it.
Although I am fully aware that some of the challenges related to time and resources involved in evaluation processes are simply difficult to overcome; creating a space for continuous feedback throughout the evaluation process, using different forms as highlighted above, may be one way to allow communities/stakeholders to react in a more timely manner.
Carolina Turano
Evaluation Analyst Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)Dear Malika and community,
Thank you for sharing your challenges in carrying out rapid evaluations.
I am currently involved in a Real Time Evaluation (RTE) conducted by the FAO Office of Evaluation. Despite the fact that the methodology of this RTE has been designed to provide real-time feedback to FAO teams and partner organisations, it is in fact taking longer than initially anticipated. The reasons were more or less similar to those mentioned by Jennifer, namely bureaucracy processes being slow, recruitment of national staff, travel restrictions, among others.
Nevertheless, I believe that some adjustments could be made to the ‘regular’ way of conducting evaluations, to make the process more agile. This may eventually contribute towards providing feedback and recommendations more ‘real time’. Some ideas could be to (either/or):
Although I am fully aware that some of the challenges related to time and resources involved in evaluation processes are simply difficult to overcome; creating a space for continuous feedback throughout the evaluation process, using different forms as highlighted above, may be one way to allow communities/stakeholders to react in a more timely manner.
I hope this contributes to the discussion.
Kind regards,
Carolina