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Chapter 1. Our Model for Community Change and Improvement >
Section 11. Participatory Evaluation >
Participatory Evaluation |
| Contributed by Phil Rabinowitz |
Checklist
Here you will find a checklist summarizing the important points of the section.
What is participatory evaluation?
__ Participatory evaluation is an evaluation that involves all the stakeholders in a project - those directly affected by it or by carrying it out - in every phase of evaluating it, and in applying the results of that evaluation to the improvement of the work.
Why would (and why wouldn't) you use participatory evaluation?
Advantages:
__ It gives you a better perspective on both the initial needs of the project's beneficiaries, and on its ultimate effects.
__ It can get you information you wouldn't get otherwise.
__ It tells you what worked and what didn't from the perspective of those most directly involved - beneficiaries and staff.
__ It can tell you why something does or doesn't work.
__ It results in a more effective project.
__ It empowers stakeholders.
__ It can provide a voice for those who are often not 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.
__ 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.
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 that everyone's 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.
__ You have to get buy-in and commitment from participants.
__ People's lives - illness, child care and relationship problems, getting the crops in, etc. - may cause delays or get in the way oftheevaluation__ 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.
When would you use participatory evaluation?
__ When you're already committed to a participatory process for your project.
__ When you have the time, or when results are more important than time.
__ When you can convince funders that it's a good idea.
__ When there may be issues in the community or population that outside evaluators (or program providers, for that matter) aren't likely to be aware of.
__ When you need information that it will be difficult for anyone outside the community or population to get.
__ When part of the goal of the project is to empower participants and help them develop transferable skills.
__ When you want to bring the community or population together.
Who should be involved in participatory evaluation?
All stakeholders, including:
__ Participants or beneficiaries.
__ Project line staff and/or volunteers.
__ Administrators.
__ Outside evaluators, if they're involved.
__ Community officials.
__ Others whose lives are affected by the project.