Participatory Evaluation

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Participatory Evaluation
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What is participatory evaluation?

• Participatory evaluation is an evaluation that
  involves all the stakeholders in a projectthose
  directly affected by it or carrying it outin
  every phase of evaluating it, and in applying the
  results of that evaluation to the improvement of
  the work.

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Why would (and wouldnt) you use participatory
evaluation?
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Advantages

• If gives you a better perspective on both the
  initial needs of the projects beneficiaries, and
  on its ultimate effects.
• It can get you information you wouldnt get
  otherwise.
• It tells you what worked and what didnt from the
  perspective of those most directly
  involvedbeneficiaries and staff.
• It can tell you why something does or doesnt
  work.

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Advantages (cont.)

• It results in a more effective project.
• It empowers stakeholders.
• It can provide a voice for those who are not
  often heard.
• It teaches skills that can be used in employment
  and other areas of life.
• It bolsters self-confidence and self-esteem in
  those who may have little of either.

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Advantages (cont.)

• It demonstrates to people ways in which they can
  take more control of their lives.
• It encourages stakeholder ownership of the
  project.
• It can spark creativity in everyone involved.
• It encourages working collaboratively
• It fits into a larger participatory effort.

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Disadvantages

• It takes more time than conventional process
• It takes the establishment of trust among all
  participants in the process.
• You have to make sure everyones involved, not
  just leaders of various groups.
• You have to train people to understand evaluation
  and how the participatory process works, as well
  as teaching them basic research skills.

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Disadvantages (cont.)

• You have to get buy-in and commitment from
  participants.
• Peoples livesillness, child care and
  relationship problems, bringing the crops in,
  etc.may cause delays or get in the way of the
  evaluation.
• You may have to be creative about how you get,
  record, and report information.
• Funders and policy makers may not understand or
  believe in participatory evaluation.

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When would you use participatory evaluation?

• When youre already committed to a participatory
  process for your project.
• When you have time, or when results are more
  important than time.
• When you can convince funders that its a good
  idea.
• When there may be issues in the community or
  population that outside evaluators or program
  providers arent likely to be aware of.

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Who should be involved?

• All stakeholders including
• Participants or beneficiaries
• Project line staff and or volunteers
• Administrators
• Outside evaluators, if theyre involved
• Community officials
• Others whose lives are affected by the project

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How do you conduct a participatory evaluation?

• Recruit stakeholders as participatory evaluators
• Train evaluators
• Name and frame the issue
• Develop a theory of practice and address it

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How do you conduct a participatory evaluation?
(cont.)

• Determine the evaluation questions
• Collect information
• Use your analysis to celebrate what worked and
  adjust the rest to improve the project.
• Stick with it indefinitely