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Session Title: Growth Charts: The Monitoring and Evaluation of Capacity Building Efforts
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Panel Session 288 to be held in Room 105 in the Convention Center on Thursday, Nov 6, 10:55 AM to 12:25 PM
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Sponsored by the Non-profit and Foundations Evaluation TIG
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| Chair(s): |
| Matt Reeves,
Pact Inc,
mreeves@pacthq.org
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| Abstract:
Capacity building, cited as the 'missing link' for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, has been a key focus for funders and non-profits in recent years. Today, there are increasing demands, by donors and beneficiaries alike, to demonstrate the value of capacity building initiatives, linking them to community level impact. This panel aims to add to the body of knowledge on what makes capacity building successful, how to build the capacity for evaluation in nonprofits, and primarily to focus on evaluating the successes and failures of capacity building projects in international and domestic contexts. Panelists represent USAID, Pact and First 5 Monterey County.
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Evaluation of Capacity Building Efforts, The Donor Perspective
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| Annie La Tour,
United States Agency for International Development,
latouram@state.gov
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Annie La Tour, Strategic Information Officer at the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator will present to the perspective of an international donor organization. USG has come under increasing pressure to demonstrate impact in order to secure further funding for international development activities. As a result, much effort has gone into developing indicators and reporting mechanisms to which grantees are held accountable. The international donor's perspective is key to understanding how development policy has catalyzed greater accountability and learning through the international development sector.
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Evaluation of Capacity Building Efforts, The International Perspective (Field)
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| Lynn McCoy,
Pact Inc,
lmccoy@pacthq.org
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Lynn McCoy will present to the perspective of an International NGO operating with partners in developing countries. She is Pact's Global Director of Monitoring and Evaluation and has been involved in the development of numerous training materials used by Pact with partner organizations in developing countries. Since the majority of Pact's programs involve capacity building, the organization is working to develop and refine tools and methodologies for monitoring the impact of its interventions. These tools and methodologies must gather key information for funders as well as assisting local partners to learn more about their work.
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Evaluation of Capacity Building Efforts, The International Perspective (HQ)
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| Matt Reeves,
Pact Inc,
mreeves@pacthq.org
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Matt Reeves will speak to the perspective of a headquarters based staff person in an International NGO. As part of his work his has researched and applied a number of innovative tools for monitoring and evaluating the success of capacity building interventions. He will speak to the need to align research and practice - empowering local actors while gathering the information necessary for improving practice and reporting to donors.
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Evaluation of Capacity Building Efforts, the Local Perspective
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| David Dobrowski,
First 5 Monterey County,
david@first5monterey.org
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David Dobrowski, Evaluation for First 5 Monterey County, will present a perspective of implementing organizational assessment and capacity building activities based on the findings in a semi-rural county in California with 20 small local nonprofits and county agencies. Methods for evaluating success, failure and recommending improvements in capacity building activities include program coordinator feedback, changes in program services and/or outcomes, and completion of sustainability plan activities. His perspective allows parallels and differences with international development work to be highlighted.
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