Evaluating Impacts of Peacebuilding Interventions

By Diana Chigas, Madeline Church and Vanessa Corlazzoli, CDA, Saferworld, Search for Common Ground and DFID
Uploaded By ConnexUs Staff
Created 04/27/2022 Type: Analysis Theme: ,
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Purpose and Intended Use of this Document 

DFID’s 2009 Peacebuilding and Statebuilding Framework outlined an integrated approach with statebuilding and peacebuilding at the centre of its work in fragile and conflict-affected countries (FCAS). Yet there is relatively little evidence of the peacebuilding impacts of DFID’s engagement in these situations, and there are serious challenges to evaluating them. This guidance is intended to help staff a) understand the challenges and opportunities of evaluating impacts of interventions that aim to build and achieve peace by targeting, directly or indirectly, key drivers of conflict and peace (peacebuilding interventions), and b) work with evaluators to ensure evaluation designs are appropriate, robust and conflict-sensitive. 

Key Questions this Document Addresses

  • What does impact evaluation mean in a peacebuilding context? 
  • What are the challenges to evaluating impacts of peacebuilding interventions?
  • How is evaluating impacts of peacebuilding interventions different from evaluating impacts of development interventions?
  • What are key considerations in the design of impact evaluations of peacebuilding interventions? 
  • What kinds of evaluation questions are useful for peacebuilding interventions?
  • What are the strengths and weaknesses of different evaluation approaches and methodologies for impact evaluation of peacebuilding – experimental or quasi experimental approaches, theory-based and case study-based designs and participatory approaches to impact evaluation? 
  • How does the evaluation process interact with the conflict context, and how can conflict sensitivity of the evaluation process be ensured? 

The document is one of a series of Guidance Products developed under the Results Initiative in Conflict, Crime, and Violence Programming within Department for International Development (DFID). The full set of products is intended to support DFID country offices and their partners to develop better measures of programme results in difficult conflict and fragile environments. 

Click here to view the complete series