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Choosing Appropriate Evaluation Methods: A Tool for Assessment & Selection

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The document "Choosing Appropriate Evaluation Methods: A Tool for Assessment & Selection" is a helpful resource for individuals with some knowledge of evaluation. It presents a practical framework to help users choose the most suitable evaluation methods (from a total of 15 methods) for their specific needs. This tool functions as a learning device, guiding users to weigh the pros and cons of different methods logically and systematically, rather than providing a single definitive answer.   The core of the framework is the " Choice Triangle ," which is an evolution of the "Design Triangle." It structures the selection process by assessing a method's appropriateness across three dimensions : The method’s ability to answer a series of specific evaluation questions. The method’s more general ability to fulfill a series of tasks or reach specific goals. The evaluation stakeholders’ ability to accommodate the method’s specific requirements. In addition...

KEY PURPOSES OF EVALUATION

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According to the EU evaluation policy, evaluation has two primary purposes:  learning and accountability.  More information is provided in the images below. Hnin Ei Lwin #Monitoring   #Evaluation   #Reporting   #Research   #MEARL #social   #development   #humanitarian   #publichealth    

The True Value of Data

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In today’s world, organizations collect vast amounts of data, from community feedback and survey results to performance metrics and outcome evaluations. However, data alone is not enough. Numbers on a spreadsheet or charts in a report mean little if they sit untouched. The real value of data emerges only when it drives decision-making and action. For example, if an education program identifies that girls in rural areas have significantly lower attendance rates, this insight should spark targeted strategies such as providing transportation , improving logistics , engaging parents, or offering flexible learning schedules. The true value of data lies not in the information itself, but in how that information is used to adapt, improve, and create meaningful change. M&E professionals play a critical role in this process by transforming raw data into actionable insights and ensuring that decisions are evidence-informed. This is how we move from reporting for compliance to learning for im...

World Social Report 2025: A New Policy Consensus to Accelerate Social Progress

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The World Social Report 2025 stands as a timely reminder of the challenges that remain hanging over most of humanity worldwide. The reality of financial hardship is stark: more than 2.8 billion people survive with less than $6.85 a day, mostly engaged in informal and unsafe jobs, with no social protection to speak of.   Inequalities cease to just persist: they are widening with climate change, very fast technological development, and poor access to opportunities. All the while, trust in institutions weakens, and digital misinformation pulls apart the social fabric. This report, therefore, calls for forging a new policy consensus founded on equity, economic security for all, and solidarity: a practical, forward-looking program that includes: 1.  Investing in people: This means making sure everyone has access to quality education, healthcare, housing, and clean energy. -   Improving access to quality education, health services, housing, and clean energy -   Addressing ...

EVALUATION HANDBOOK - 2024 (EU Publications)

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The primary audience for this evaluation handbook includes: Evaluation managers in European Union (EU) delegations and at headquarters, Monitoring and evaluation focal points in EU delegations, and  External evaluation teams and contractors It builds upon the Better Regulation Guidelines (European Commission (EC), 2021a) and the Better Regulation Toolbox (EC, 2023), along with other pertinent EC guidance such as the Results-Oriented Monitoring (ROM) Guidelines, the Evaluation ToR templates and guidance, and various methodological notes issued by the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) and the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI). Furthermore, the handbook integrates information from external (non-EC) sources, all of which are fully referenced and/or hyperlinked within the document for further reading. Evaluation Handbook:  https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/06350947-4d56-11ef-acbc-01aa75ed71a1/language-en# ISBN 978-92-68-...

Beyond Training

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Addressing violence against women and girls  (VAWG)  requires more than well-intentioned training sessions. As highlighted in this UN Women document, training alone cannot resolve a deeply rooted, systemic issue. It  is comparable to mopping up water from a leaking pipe without fixing the source, the problem persists. So, what does it mean to go "beyond training"? It means we need to look at the   entire system   around us  including  the way institutions, like police departments, hospitals, or social services, operate.   The document uses an idea called   "The Eight Methods", originally developed by Ellen Pence  of the Duluth Model , to help us think about all these different pieces. It  is  a bit like a checklist to make sure we  are  not just educating people, but actually   changing how the entire institution functions. 1.       Laws and policies   2.    ...

INTERSECTIONALITY TOOLBOX

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If you are interested in intersectionality, which emphasizes that identities are not singular but interact within existing power structures such as patriarchy, ableism, and racism, this guide and toolbox (published in 2022) goes beyond simply adding identity categories to provide a structural analysis of social inequalities.  It explains  - eight intersectionality enablers (1. Reflexivity, 2. Dignity, Choice and autonomy, 3. Accessibility and universal design, 4. Diverse knowledges, 5. Intersecting identities, 6. Relational power, 7. Time and space, and 8. Transformative and rights-based),  - a framework for practical action (built on Analyze, Adapt, and Assess),  - as well as detailed tools to be used in practical settings (TOOL 1: Power Flower – exploring your identity and privilege; TOOL 2: Key considerations for creating safe spaces; TOOL 3: Intersectionality context analysis; and TOOL 4: Analysis to adaptation). Lin k to the report: https://www.unwomen.org/sites...