| Session Title: The Contribution of Evaluation to Building the Capacity of Indigenous, Not for Profit Organizations in New Zealand: Implementation of the Child, Youth and Family Provider Development Fund |
| Multipaper Session 354 to be held in D'Alesandro Room on Thursday, November 8, 11:15 AM to 12:45 PM |
| Sponsored by the Non-profit and Foundations Evaluation TIG |
| Discussant(s): |
| Kate McKegg, The Knowledge Institute Ltd, kate.mckegg@xtra.co.nz |
| Abstract: In 2000, the New Zealand government allocated funding to the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services to work with iwi (tribal) and Maori organizations to strengthen their capacity to (1) deliver government programmes and services, and (2) develop their own programmes and services to meet local needs. These papers background the evidence-based development processes and shared 'learnings' that have informed and built a community of practice between the funder and the evaluators to support the ongoing implementation of this capacity building fund. The papers focus on evaluation utility, how evaluation and evaluations methods have contributed to the policy process, fund administration, training development and delivery and discusses the critical attributes and factors that have supported this relationship, since 2001 to the present day. |
| Taking the Time and Building the Relationship: The Approach Taken to the Design and Implementation of the Iwi and Maori Provider Workforce and Development Fund Evaluation |
| Nan Wehipeihana, Research Evaluation Consultancy Ltd, nanw@clear.net.nz |
| The paper explores the importance of strong, trusting and respectful relationships within evaluation. How, working with the evaluation sponsor over a period of six months to gain an in-depth understanding of the aims, intent and operation of the fund, prior to the development of an evaluation design, built trust and confidence in the evaluators. How, on the strength of the relationship, funding was made available for the collective development of the evaluation approach/design involving all eight members of the evaluation team in a series of workshops and planning meetings. How the evaluators reciprocated by providing feedback and data, in advance of final reports, to support the decision-making processes in relation to the ongoing management and implementation of the fund. How, the relationship (and the quality of the evaluation outputs) has supported the ongoing involvement of the evaluators from 2001 to 2007, and an invitation to continue that involvement until 2009. |
| Utilizing Evaluation in the Ongoing Implementation of the Iwi Maori Provider Development Fund |
| Sonya Cameron, Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, sonya.cameron006@cyf.govt.nz |
| This paper discusses how evaluation has contributed to the implementation and strategic direction of the IMPDF. How the literature review and evaluation framework have been utilized post the evaluation. How the evaluation findings contributed to changes in the funding application process, to the nature of support provided to provider organizations and the range of development activities that could be funded. One of the most significant contributions has been the development of an organizational capacity self-assessment tool by the evaluators. The application of that tool has greatly enhanced the ability of providers to identify their own needs and plan their own development and its value is both as an assessment tool and as a capacity building activity in its own right. The paper concludes by discussing the potential contribution of the evaluation to building the capacity of the wider social services and voluntary sector in New Zealand. |
| The Contribution of Evaluation to Building the Capacity of Iwi and Maori Social Service, Not-For-Profit Provider Organizations |
| Miri Rawiri, Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, miri.rawiri004@cyf.govt.nz |
| Providers being self-determining and sustainable development were key messages that arose out of the Iwi and Maori Provider Workforce Development Fund (IMPDF) evaluation. This paper explores how the development of an organizational capacity self-assessment tool (and process) has supported providers to be self-determining and how the capacity building activities have contributed to organizational sustainability. It describes how providers have engaged with the process, the benefits and capacity gains they report to date (after only a period of two years of use) and how they have used the self-assessment tool, information and processes - in ways unimagined by the evaluators - to support the ongoing operation of their organizations. |
| Building an Evidence Base to Support the Sustainability of Iwi and Maori Social Service Provider Organizations and the Development of Cultural Practice Models |
| Fiona Cram, Katoa Ltd, fionac@katoa.net.nz |
| The paper explores the contribution of the various evaluation outputs including evaluation reports, literature reviews (2), organizational capacity self-assessment tool and processes and programme logic training to building the organizational capacity of iwi and Maori social service providers. The paper then explores how these capacity building activities have assisted providers to better articulate the cultural basis from which they work; their values, rationale and ways of working. As a result, iwi and Maori providers are better able to document and describe why they do what they do and how it contributes to outcomes which helps to bridge the knowledge gap around cultural practice models of some funders. |