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To evaluate or not: Evaluability study of 40 interventions of Belgian development cooperation

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  • Holvoet, Nathalie
  • Van Esbroeck, Dirk
  • Inberg, Liesbeth
  • Popelier, Lisa
  • Peeters, Bob
  • Verhofstadt, Ellen

Abstract

Due to an increasing importance of evaluations within development cooperation, it has become all the more important to analyse if initial conditions for quality and relevant evaluations are met. This article presents the findings from an evaluability study of 40 interventions of Belgian development cooperation. A study framework was developed focusing on three key dimensions (i.e. theoretical evaluability, practical evaluability and the evaluation context) and subdivided over the different OECD/DAC criteria. Drawing upon a combination of desk and field research, the study framework was subsequently applied on a set of 40 interventions in Benin, DRC, Rwanda and Belgium. Findings highlight that the context dimension scores remarkably better than the theoretical and practical evaluability in particular. The large majority of the interventions have the conditions in place to satisfactorily evaluate effectiveness and efficiency while the opposite holds for sustainability and impact in particular. These findings caution against commissioning of evaluations that ritually focus on all OECD/DAC criteria regardless of their readiness. It underscores the usefulness of a flexible ‘portfolio’ approach towards evaluations, in which a more systematic use of evaluability assessment from the start of interventions could play a role.

Suggested Citation

  • Holvoet, Nathalie & Van Esbroeck, Dirk & Inberg, Liesbeth & Popelier, Lisa & Peeters, Bob & Verhofstadt, Ellen, 2018. "To evaluate or not: Evaluability study of 40 interventions of Belgian development cooperation," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 189-199.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:epplan:v:67:y:2018:i:c:p:189-199
    DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2017.12.005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Holvoet, N. & Renard, Robrecht, 2007. "Monitoring and evaluation under the PRSP: Solid rock or quicksand?," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 66-81, February.
    2. Lant Pritchett & Salimah Samji & Jeffrey S. Hammer, 2012. "It's All about MeE: Using Structured Experiential Learning ('e') to Crawl the Design Space," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2012-104, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Smith, M. F., 1990. "Evaluability assessment: Reflections on the process," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 13(4), pages 359-364, January.
    4. D’Ostie-Racine, Léna & Dagenais, Christian & Ridde, Valéry, 2013. "An evaluability assessment of a West Africa based Non-Governmental Organization's (NGO) progressive evaluation strategy," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 71-79.
    5. Rob Lloyd & Derek Poate & Espen Villanger, 2014. "Results measurement and evaluability: a comparative analysis," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(4), pages 378-391, December.
    6. Holvoet, Nathalie & Dewachter, Sara, 2013. "Building national M&E systems in the context of changing aid modalities: The underexplored potential of National Evaluation Societies," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 47-57.
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    1. Holvoet, Nathalie & Casten, Wanda & Demissie, Eshetu Woldeyohannes & Dewachter, Sara & Gamboa, Marian Kaye C. & Adhanom, Tewelde Gebremariam & Ibrahim, Abdurahman Hamza & Makundi, Hezron & Manguni, Gr, 2023. "Theory-based evaluation of the impact of Master’s programmes in development studies: Insights from a mixed-methods and multicultural alumni action research project," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    2. Valérie Pattyn, 2019. "Towards Appropriate Impact Evaluation Methods," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 31(2), pages 174-179, April.
    3. Shyam Singh & Nathalie Holvoet & Vivek Pandey, 2018. "Bridging Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility: Culture of Monitoring and Evaluation of CSR Initiatives in India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-19, July.
    4. Valérie Pattyn & Marjolein Bouterse, 2020. "Explaining use and non-use of policy evaluations in a mature evaluation setting," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, December.

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