IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/syspar/v34y2021i1d10.1007_s11213-019-09504-w.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Examining Conditions that Influence Evaluation use within a Humanitarian Non-Governmental Organization in Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Author

Listed:
  • Léna D’Ostie-Racinea

    (University of Montreal)

  • Christian Dagenais

    (University of Montreal)

  • Valéry Ridde

    (Universités Paris Sorbonne Cités, ERL INSERM SAGESUD
    University of Montreal Public Health Research Institute (IRSPUM))

Abstract

Program evaluation can support capacity building and inform practice and policy. Yet long-term efforts to ensure evaluation use (EU) in the humanitarian sector are seldom documented, leaving much uncertainty about EU conditions. This study examined conditions that influenced EU by stakeholders of a humanitarian non-governmental organization (NGO) in Burkina Faso striving to base its health care program on solid evidence. It used 36 qualitative semi-structured interviews and a single case study design to document stakeholders’ (n = 26) perception of EU conditions. Analyses focussed on characteristics of five broad conditions of research use previously documented. Results demonstrate that EU was facilitated by intended users with proactive attitudes, research experience, and willingness to participate in program evaluations. Also helpful was an organizational culture that valued learning, feedback, and accountability, wherein leaders collaborated toward common goals. Evaluation-based knowledge that met information needs and that was actionable, contextualized, and quickly accessible enhanced EU. Knowledge transfer strategies promoting EU were diverse, participatory, adapted to needs, and regularly followed up. Evaluators who were trusted, experienced, credible, and adaptable, promoted EU most effectively. Conversely, EU was compromised when intended users felt distrusting, uninformed, or unable to engage in program evaluations. Knowledge contradicting expectations or deemed inapplicable impeded EU. Adapting knowledge transfer strategies required time and interactions. Initially, evaluations were not sufficiently adapted and put into plain language, which hampered EU. EU conditions are numerous and intricately interrelated, but interpersonal relationships, trust, and effective communication are key conditions for evaluators and stakeholders wishing to promote EU.

Suggested Citation

  • Léna D’Ostie-Racinea & Christian Dagenais & Valéry Ridde, 2021. "Examining Conditions that Influence Evaluation use within a Humanitarian Non-Governmental Organization in Burkina Faso (West Africa)," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 1-35, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:syspar:v:34:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s11213-019-09504-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s11213-019-09504-w
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11213-019-09504-w
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11213-019-09504-w?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ridde, Valéry & Kouanda, Seni & Yameogo, Maurice & Kadio, Kadidiatou & Bado, Aristide, 2013. "Why do women pay more than they should? A mixed methods study of the implementation gap in a policy to subsidize the costs of deliveries in Burkina Faso," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 145-152.
    2. Masood Ahmed, 2005. "Bridging research and policy," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 17(6), pages 765-773.
    3. 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.
    4. John Young, 2005. "Research, policy and practice: why developing countries are different," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 17(6), pages 727-734.
    5. Sanou, Aboubakary & Kouyaté, Bocar & Bibeau, Gilles & Nguyen, Vinh-Kim, 2011. "Evaluability Assessment of an immunization improvement strategy in rural Burkina Faso: Intervention theory versus reality, information need and evaluations," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 303-315, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Norraini Nordin & Ali Khatibi & S. M. Ferdous Azam, 2024. "Nonprofit capacity and social performance: mapping the field and future directions," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 74(1), pages 171-225, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. 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.
    2. Quentin Stoeffler & Michael Carter & Catherine Guirkinger & Wouter Gelade, 2022. "The Spillover Impact of Index Insurance on Agricultural Investment by Cotton Farmers in Burkina Faso," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 36(1), pages 114-140.
    3. Catherine Ragasa & Suresh Babu & John Ulimwengu, 2014. "Institutional reforms and agricultural policy process: lessons from Democratic Republic of Congo," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 2(1), pages 1-21, December.
    4. Aberman, Noora-Lisa & Schiffer, Eva & Johnson, Michael & Oboh, Victor, 2010. "Mapping the policy process in Nigeria," IFPRI discussion papers 1000, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    5. Potoae Roberts Aiafi, 2017. "The Nature of Public Policy Processes in the Pacific Islands," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 4(3), pages 451-466, September.
    6. Bach Xuan Tran & Vuong Minh Nong & Rachel Marie Maher & Phuong Khanh Nguyen & Hoat Ngoc Luu, 2014. "A Systematic Review of Scope and Quality of Health Economic Evaluation Studies in Vietnam," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(8), pages 1-12, August.
    7. Julius T. Mugwagwa, 2013. "Revealing the footprint: Supranational organizations and transnational governance of biotechnology in southern Africa," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(1), pages 135-148, March.
    8. Hortigüela Arroyo, María & Ubillos Landa, Silvia, 2019. "Evaluability assessment of a community development leisure program in Spain," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 219-226.
    9. Henning, Christian H. C. A., 2015. "Modeling and evaluation of political processes: A new quantitative approach," Working Papers of Agricultural Policy WP2015-01, University of Kiel, Department of Agricultural Economics, Chair of Agricultural Policy.
    10. deGrassi, Aaron, 2007. "Linking research and policy: The case of Ghana's rice trade policy," GSSP working papers 10, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    11. Youtie, Jan & Bozeman, Barry & Jabbehdari, Sahra & Kao, Andrew, 2017. "Credibility and use of scientific and technical information in policy making: An analysis of the information bases of the National Research Council’s committee reports," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 108-120.
    12. 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.
    13. Khodr, Hiba & Uherova Hasbani, Katarina, 2013. "The dynamics of energy policy in Lebanon when research, politics, and policy fail to intersect," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 629-642.
    14. Aberman, Noora-Lisa & Schiffer, Eva & Johnson, Michael & Oboh, Victor, 2009. "Mapping the policy process in Nigeria: Examining linkages between research and policy," NSSP working papers 12, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    15. Muhamad Rosyid Jazuli & Maimanah Mohammed Idris & Penlope Yaguma, 2022. "The importance of institutional quality: Reviewing the relevance of Indonesia’s Omnibus Law on national competitiveness," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-13, December.
    16. Atinga, Roger A. & Agyepong, Irene Akua & Esena, Reuben K., 2018. "Ghana's community-based primary health care: Why women and children are ‘disadvantaged’ by its implementation," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 201(C), pages 27-34.
    17. Ali Milani-Bonab & Naser Kalantari & Amirhossein Takian & Arezoo Haghighian-Roudsari, 2023. "Food and agriculture, nutrition and health related policy integration in Iran’s national development agenda and their alignment with the sustainable development goals," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(4), pages 3353-3378, April.
    18. David Nkedianye & Dickson Kaelo & Robin Reid & Moses Neselle & Leonard Onetu & Ogeli Makui & Mohammed Said & Steven Kiruswa & Patti Kristjanson & Ololtisatti Kamuaro & Shem Kifugo & Nancy M. Dickson &, 2008. "Linking Knowledge with Action Using Community Facilitators to Span Boundaries: Lessons from East Africa," CID Working Papers 25, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    19. Nkedianye, David & Kaelo, Dickson & Reid, Robin & Neselle, Moses & Onetu, Leonard & Makui, Ogeli & Said, Mohammed & Kiruswa, Steve & Kristjanson, Patti & Kamuaro, Ololtisatti & Kifugo, Shem & Dickson,, 2009. "Linking Knowledge with Action Using Community Facilitators to Span Boundaries: Lessons from East Africa," Scholarly Articles 32062580, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
    20. Guerra-López, Ingrid & Hicks, Karen, 2015. "The participatory design of a performance oriented monitoring and evaluation system in an international development environment," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 21-30.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:syspar:v:34:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s11213-019-09504-w. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.