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Evaluation as Practice

Evaluation as Practice

Evaluation is both trans-discipline and craft, shaped by context, contested by power, and demanding of learning and judgment that are increasingly challenging during a time of upheaval and uncertainty. Posts here engage with the real practice of evaluation: design choices and their assumptions and trade-offs, quality and rigour in messy settings, ethical navigation, and what it takes to do this work well when it truly matters. A Global South lens infuses the posts.
13
Jan
The DAC criteria, Part 12: Concluding summary

The DAC criteria, Part 12: Concluding summary

I argued that the DAC criteria should get due credit. As noted in Part 1 of this series, they have
5 min read
07
Nov
The DAC criteria, Part 10. Sleepwalking towards irrelevance

The DAC criteria, Part 10. Sleepwalking towards irrelevance

We are sleepwalking towards irrelevance. Not because we do not do some worthwhile things. We do. But because those with
7 min read
02
Nov
The DAC criteria, Part 9. Our responsibilities

The DAC criteria, Part 9. Our responsibilities

Our evaluation criteria are fundamental to the credibility and utility of our evaluations. Yet we have allowed one set of
4 min read
19
Oct
The DAC criteria, Part 6. Key issues before deciding

The DAC criteria, Part 6. Key issues before deciding

This final post about the DAC criteria captures key points for consideration in the evaluation for development space. It is
6 min read
12
Oct
The DAC criteria, Part 4. Flexible criteria

The DAC criteria, Part 4. Flexible criteria

Our development evaluation criteria should not be determined solely by stakeholder-determined interests, or by pragmatism resulting from constrained resources. Development
4 min read
06
Oct
The DAC criteria, Part 2. Why change?

The DAC criteria, Part 2. Why change?

Given the good contributions of the DAC criteria noted in Part 1 of this series, let us now turn to
7 min read
02
Oct
The DAC criteria, Part 1. The positives

The DAC criteria, Part 1. The positives

The highly influential DAC evaluation criteria need to be revised. Some say reformed. What will modernised evaluation criteria for development
3 min read
10
Mar
Sustaining (development) impact

Sustaining (development) impact

These days we talk a lot about “sustainable development”. And about “evaluating impact”. But I continue to maintain that it is useless to evaluate the impacts of an intervention without focusing on whether such impacts have a good chance to sustain.
4 min read
21
Feb
No, I am NOT a “development evaluator”. I evaluate FOR development.

No, I am NOT a “development evaluator”. I evaluate FOR development.

I do not do "development evaluation". I do not practice the evaluation OF development. I evaluate FOR development.
6 min read
17
Sep
This idea must die!

This idea must die!

My last two blog posts addressed the issue of Grand Challenges in evaluation. A complementary idea: A type of '
2 min read