| In a 90 minute Roundtable session, the first
rotation uses the first 45 minutes and the second rotation uses the last 45 minutes.
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| Roundtable Rotation I:
Practices for Working With and Building Capacity of Local Evaluation Consultants in International Development |
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Roundtable Presentation 514 to be held in SAN JACINTO on Friday, Nov 12, 9:15 AM to 10:45 AM
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Sponsored by the International and Cross-cultural Evaluation TIG
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| Presenter(s):
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| Elizabeth Hutchinson, Land O'Lakes International Development, erhutchinson@landolakes.com
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| Meredith Blair, Humanity United, mblair@humanityunited.org
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| Abstract:
Many international development programs work with host-country external consultants who bring valuable localized knowledge and expertise in evaluation. Key to ensuring the quality of these evaluations and mutual satisfaction of the partnership rests on thoughtful and thorough preparations. Successfully working with local evaluators encompasses two main approaches: 1) strong start up systems and strategies and 2) a commitment to strengthening the capacity of local consultants as needed. Managing this process pays off in robust data collection and analysis, as well as further strengthens local capacity, fosters sustainability and ensures quality evaluations.
This roundtable aims at providing an opportunity for participants to share valuable insights on different challenges, limitations, practices and opportunities that emerged in their own work in international contexts. The discussion, facilitated by Land O’Lakes International Development and Humanity United, will include recommendations, practices, and lessons learned to improve the practice of working with local evaluators in international settings.
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| Roundtable Rotation II:
Exploring Evaluation Quality in International Development Evaluation: An Examination of How International Development Organizations Issue and Contract Evaluations |
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Roundtable Presentation 514 to be held in SAN JACINTO on Friday, Nov 12, 9:15 AM to 10:45 AM
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Sponsored by the International and Cross-cultural Evaluation TIG
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| Presenter(s):
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| Anne Cullen, Western Michigan University, anne.cullen@wmich.edu
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| Daniela Schroeter, Western Michigan University, daniela.schroeter@wmich.edu
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| Michele Tarsilla, Western Michigan University, michele.tarsilla@wmich.edu
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| Jim Rugh, Independent Consultant, jimrugh@mindspring.com
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| Abstract:
Recent studies have shown that donor dominance of the international development evaluation process can pose serious limitations to the independence of evaluators. Specifically, rigid evaluation terms of reference (TOR) and requests for proposals (RFP) limit evaluators to determine independently (a) how programs should be evaluated, (b) which evaluation methods are most appropriate for use, (c) how to sample stakeholders for interviews or consultations, and (d) how the evaluation is to be conducted. Moreover, in many cases, access to TORs/RFPs is limited to a selected number of vendors/consultants. This session explores the implications of the issuing and contracting processes of international development evaluations on evaluation quality. We present as an example the results of a 2010 study on TORs and RFPs issued by international development organizations. Presenters will pose a number of questions to roundtable participants to highlight strengths, weaknesses, and areas of improvement for international development evaluation contracting.
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