| Session Title: Disaster and Emergency Management Evaluation TIG Business Meeting and Presentation: Reflections on Real World Evaluation for Large Scale Disaster Relief and Recovery Programs in the International Context |
| Business Meeting Session 462 to be held in the Granite Room Section C on Thursday, Nov 6, 6:10 PM to 7:00 PM |
| Sponsored by the Disaster and Emergency Management Evaluation TIG |
| TIG Leader(s): |
| Scott Chaplowe, American Red Cross, schaplowe@amcrossasia.org |
| Patricia Bolton, Battelle Seattle Research Center, bolton@battelle.org |
| Karen Pendleton, University of South Carolina, ktpendl@gwm.sc.edu |
| Liesel Ritchie, University of Colorado Boulder, liesel.ritchie@colorado.edu |
| Presenter(s): |
| Scott Chaplowe, American Red Cross, schaplowe@amcrossasia.org |
| Abstract: Following the December 26, 2004 tsunami, literally hundreds of non-governmental humanitarian organizations, in-country and international, deployed staff and volunteers to engage in relief activities in the affected communities around the Indian Ocean. As in other large-scale disasters, there is a continuum of experience, from small first time ‘emergent organizations’ up to large scale international organizations with long experience and well-formulated objectives. Large amounts of donated resources pass through these organizations, while evaluation of their processes and effects proves difficult and even unpopular. When evaluation is considered, the contextual challenges prove daunting, including political climate, NGO competitiveness, questionable motives, donor expectations, and available expertise. Dr. Chaplowe will describe recent experience with the design and implementation of an evaluation of an international post-disaster program and would like to hear from others who have or would like to implement evaluation in an international setting. |