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Session Title: Lessons for Methodology and Fieldwork in International Development Evaluations: The Heifer International Impact Evaluations in Africa, Asia, and the Americas

Panel Session 736 to be held in International Ballroom C on Saturday, November 10, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM

Sponsored by the International and Cross-cultural Evaluation TIG

Chair(s):

Carlisle payday loan  Levine payday loan ,  Catholic Relief Services,  clevine@crs.org

Abstract: Since 2005, the Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University (EC) has been working with Heifer International as an independent agency to evaluate their projects in different countries. In 2005 and 2006, EC teams have evaluated 37 projects supported by Heifer in Thailand, Nepal, Albania, Peru and the US. In 2007, four EC teams will evaluate 32 projects in China, Kenya, Tanzania, and Cameroon. The main focus of those evaluations is to assess Heifer's impact; however the evaluators have been using the Key Evaluation Checklist to look also at aspects related to process, cost, comparisons and generalizability. An evaluation approach-the Heifer Hoofprint Model-was developed and is being improved over the years. This panel will bring together the Evaluation Director, the Evaluation Manager, and the Evaluation Client to discuss the main lessons learned from these complex evaluations, especially the ones concerned with methodology and fieldwork.

Setting the Stage: The Heifer Hoofprint Evaluation Model Thomaz payday loan  Chianca payday loan ,  Western Michigan University,  thomaz.chianca@wmich.edu The main focus for this presentation will be to describe the Heifer Hoofprint Model, emphasizing the evaluation methodology and fieldwork strategies developed by the WMU Evaluation Center (EC) to evaluate the work done by Heifer International in nine countries in different parts of the world. Mr. Chianca has been managing the external evaluations conducted by the EC for Heifer for the past three years, and has led the evaluation teams in Peru, Thailand, and China.

The Client's Learning: How the Impact Evaluations have Affected the Agency Rienzzie payday loan  Kern payday loan ,  Heifer International,  rienzzie.kern@heifer.org Mr. Kern is the Director for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation for Heifer International and is the primary client for the external evaluations conducted by the WMU Evaluation Center. His contribution to the panel will be to discuss the impact of the evaluations in various levels of his agency (from fundraising to agency's senior leadership and country offices), and also to present the client's perspectives on the main learning for methodology and fieldwork from the impact evaluations.

Learning for Methodology and Fieldwork from the Perspective of the External Evaluation Team Michael payday loan  Scriven payday loan ,  Western Michigan University,  scriven@aol.com Dr. Scriven has been the project director and main brain power behind the design and implementation of the impact evaluations for Heifer International. He has also participated in fieldwork in many of the countries included in these evaluations. His presentation will focus mainly in providing a critical reflection about the three rounds of impact evaluations with special attention to the main learning for methodology and fieldwork.