|
Monitoring
and Evaluation (M&E) is an essential part of our work, helping us to
identify any unwanted developments and to continually improve our work. We
conduct external evaluations by mandate in our core topic areas. Aside from
this, we see monitoring and evaluation as a dynamic field that inspires us to
try out and continually develop new approaches.
By evaluation
we mean the systematic and objective analysis of information in order to answer
specific questions and to make assessments based on previously determined
success indicators. Potential assessment criteria for projects are:
- Relevance: Do the project goals correspond with the needs of the target
group(s)?
- Efficiency: Are the resources used for the intervention adequate?
- Effectiveness: Have the project goals been met?
- Impact: Which positive and negative, direct and indirect, intended
and unintended effects have occurred as a result of the project?
- Sustainability: Can the benefits of the project endure?
Unlike evaluation, monitoring is a continual analysis of information, which gives
indications as to whether or not a project is running according to plan. On
this basis a project can be adapted and processes optimized, as needed.
It is of central concern to us, not only to
find out whether or not specific target goals have been met, but to
establish a basis for the further
development of a project and to make a contribution to learning within an
organization. For this reason we normally take a participatory approach, so that the stakeholders (the target groups
of a project, project employees within an organization, etc.) can be included
as much as possible in the development of the evaluation design. This allows us
to take many different perspectives into consideration. Our evaluations
distinguish themselves with this interdisciplinary approach and wide range of
methods. Furthermore, we strive to follow the Evaluation Quality Standards
of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the OECD.
We conduct the following types of
evaluations:
- Summative and
formative evaluations: Summative evaluations control whether or not a project is
effective, or whether or not it is working exactly as one expected it to in theory. Here, control groups are normally necessary in order to
satisfactorily demonstrate that the effects would be absent without the
project. Formative evaluations
go along with the project in order to continuously control the
implementation and effects. Unlike summative evaluations, formative
evaluations have the main goal of improving a running intervention as well
as optimizing the steering process.
- Evaluations of local partner organizations in international
development (organizational appraisal): a (Rapid) Organizational Appraisal includes the (rapid) collection
and analysis of relevant information regarding institutional capacity,
structures, orientation, networking, areas of activity, and the strengths
and weaknesses of potential partner organizations in international
development. The gathering of information occurs under the participatory
involvement of the local stakeholders as well as by means of a number of
qualitative and quantitative methods. The goal of an assessment is the
selection of potential project partners, as well as the identification of
effective approaches for capacity building measures and organizational
development.
The
following is a selection of both running and completed evaluations by SAD:
Further Links:
 Monitoring and Evaluation NEWS
Evaluation of development programs by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of OECD
Independant Evaluation Grop (IEG) of the World Bank
Evaluation Groupe (UNEG) of the UN
Evaluation at UNICEF
Portal for Participatory Planning Monitoring & Evaluation of the University of Wageningen, Netherland
Wilderdom: Tools, instruments and questionnaires for research
& evaluation of intervention programs
Insightshare: Participatory video-M&E
|
Methodology 
Print
E-mail