Methodology

Peacebuilding: A Caritas Training Manual builds on the Caritas Handbook Working for Reconciliation, and extends the material into peacebuilding training and programming. It is a resource that contains both conceptual and practical tools to help fill the peacebuilder’s toolbox....

Developmental evaluation is a work-in-progress; an evolving methodology. This guide builds on the contribution of an earlier booklet by Jamie Gamble entitled A Developmental Evaluation Primer, published by the Foundation in 2008. It contains the lessons and insights of a group of practitioners who collaborated on a program called YouthScape, which aimed to support the engagement of young people in their communities—a program that by its nature was clearer on its goals than on the means to attain them, and which involved all the stakeholders in an intense learning process. ...

The intent of this document is to introduce the concept of developmental evaluation to potential users and to provide some tools to support its use.While this primer includes examples of developmental evaluation being applied in innovative projects, it is an embryonic discipline and new ideas about it are still emerging. ...

This report presents background information and key content related to the USAID-sponsored workshop on Theories of Change Indicator Development that was held December 14-15, 2009, at George Mason University‘s Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR) in collaboration with the Academy for Educational Development (AED)....

This guide consolidates a number of ME&L approaches that have been newly developed or contextualized for fragile states and peacebuilding programs. A range of qualitative, quantitative and participatory approaches are included as well as tools for strengthening ME&L systems at the project or organization level. The approaches have come from bilateral and multilateral donors, local and international NGOs, consultants, and university groups from around the globe who were consulted in putting this guide together....

This report captures the thoughts and discussions of a meeting held from 14–16 March 2001, between staff of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) Community Peace Building and Development Project (CPBD Project) and the Nairobi Peace Initiative-Africa (NPI-Africa)....

Outlines how to do evaluations under budget, time, and data constraints, as well as political influences. This extensive summary of the book illustrates tradeoffs and presents practical options for addressing such issues at the design and implementation stages of a typical evaluation. ...

Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) supports evidence-based decision-making in program management through rigorous approaches to collecting and using quality data on program performance, results, and impact. The application of appropriate analytical tools in order to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of interventions in well-defined contexts over time contributes to our knowledge of the kinds of interventions that work best, and under which conditions....

This edition of New Routes Journal examines the state of peacebuilding evaluation. It contains contributions from Cheyanne Church, Hannah Tsadik, Christoph Spurk, Reina Neufeldt, Diana Chigas and Peter Woodrow, and others.  ...

This paper is a record of an international workshop in September 2010 on the evaluation of storytelling as a peacebuilding methodology. It includes lessons learned and useful methodological tips for evaluating the use of storytelling.  ...

Questions of cause and effect are critical to assessing the performance of programmes and projects. When it is not practical to design an experiment to assess performance, contribution analysis can provide credible assessments of cause and effect....

24 individuals from around the world--who are actively engaged with issues related to conflict resolution and evaluation--met to discss issues relating to emerging practice and theory in conflict resolution evaluation. This paper captures the essence of the discussion around those emerging themes and further develops the issues through research and analysis.  Part 1: This paper provides information about current practices in the field and a framework through which to structure evaluation discussions. Part 2: This paper is the result of the second phase of the project. ...

This Issues Note gives readers a basic understanding of Monitoring and Evaluation so that they are equipped to integrate M&E into planning and execution of a stabilisation intervention. It sets out issues and questions that the practitioner may face, and points to other, more detailed sources of information.  ...

The overarching theme of the Toolkit is learning before, during and after implementation of peacebuilding programs. Chapters one to three explore the connections between learning and effective peacebuilding practice, and suggest practices for reflection and learning as individuals and communities....

This checklist provides an initial brainstorm of key questions and considerations when designing and implementing an assessment.  ...

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty....

Sustaining an M&E system that can produce trustworthy, timely, and relevant information on the performance of government, civil society, or private sector projects, programs, and policies requires that one overcome many M&E system challenges and approach the implementation of such a system with experience, skill, and real institutional capacity....

The DAC Working Party on Aid Evaluation (WP-EV) has developed this glossary of key terms in evaluation and results-based management because of the need to clarify concepts and to reduce the terminological confusion frequently encountered in these areas. Evaluation is a field where development partners – often with widely differing linguistic backgrounds – work together and need to use a common vocabulary....

Good quality data are one of the most important aspects of conducting an impact evaluation, but obtaining or generating high quality data entails trade-offs and difficulties. Compromises inevitably need to be made. Collecting new data is not always necessary for carrying out a rigorous impact evaluation, but it is often desirable where affordable....

Discussions of current conflicts often highlight their complexity. Under such difficult circumstances, how can international agencies that undertake programs to promote survival and/or peace determine what their impacts are? Tracing and assessing humanitarian or political attempts to lesson conflict has two dimensions....