| Session Title: Evaluating Complex Programs |
| Think Tank Session 223 to be held in El Capitan B on Thursday, Nov 3, 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM |
| Sponsored by the International and Cross-cultural Evaluation TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Michael Bamberger, Independent consultant, jmichaelbamberger@gmail.com |
| Discussant(s): |
| Jim Rugh, Independent Consultant, jimrugh@mindspring.com |
| Megan Steinke, Save the Children, msteinke@savechildren.org |
| Michael Bamberger, Independent Consultant, jmichaelbamberger@gmail.com |
| Abstract: Development agencies are moving away from support for individual projects towards complex programs that either involve broad, multi-component sector support or national level interventions that often involve several donor agencies and cover policy reform, cross sector or cross-country programs and that frequently provide general budget support to central government agencies who decide how the funds will be utilized. In all of these cases it is not possible to apply conventional project impact evaluation designs (such as pre-test/post-test comparison group designs) and the donor community is searching for new evaluation methodologies appropriate for evaluating these complex programs. Following a brief review of new evaluation approaches that are being applied at this level, participants will share their experiences with promising approaches and challenges in the evaluation of their complex programs. The think tank will build on new approaches discussed in a number of international conferences and workshops that the facilitators have organized over the past two years. |