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Session Title: Theories of Change and Participatory Methodologies in the Evaluation of Peacebuilding Projects
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Panel Session 957 to be held in Conference Room 13 on Saturday, Nov 5, 2:20 PM to 3:50 PM
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Sponsored by the International and Cross-cultural Evaluation TIG
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| Chair(s): |
| Nicholas Oatley, Search for Common Ground, noatley@sfcg.org
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| Discussant(s):
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| Nicholas Oatley, Search For Common Ground, noatley@sfcg.org
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| Abstract:
Peacebuilding and conflict transformation is a relatively new field. As such there is little by way of received wisdom from evidence based practice and what works. The development of theories of change and the use of appropriate methodologies that capture the results of work in this area are paramount concerns for a discipline still in its infancy. This panel brings together contributions that reflect the experience of developing and applying theories of change in varying contexts and explores the application of different methodologies for measuring the results of peacebuilding work around the world. The importance of values in influencing the development of theories of change and the plurality of values and interests reflected in different evaluation practices will be highlighted in the presentations and discussions.
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Theories of Change and the Effectiveness of Partners for Democratic Change International's Global Conflict Resolution Network
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| Julia Roig, Partners for Democratic Change, jroig@partnersglobal.org
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This paper will discuss the challenges faced by Partners for Democratic Changes' leadership team in designing and implementing an evaluation process using participatory tools and techniques with the Directors of the 20 autonomous local Partners Centers for Change and Conflict Management (called Partners for Democratic Change International) throughout the world. In particular, the discussion will focus on the institutional challenges and strategies for developing common Theories of Change within a global network of conflict resolution professionals who are working in very different environments and implementing diverse programs with a wide range of donors. Differing stakeholder perspectives will be considered including the differing values that come in to play in Partners work founded on the principles of a) sustainable impact through capacity-building of local institutions b) participatory and multistakeholder approach to addressing conflict management challenges and c) social entrepreneurialism http://www.partnersglobal.org/
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A Well-Told Story: Capacity-Building, Theories of Change, and Peacebuilding Practice
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| Andrew Blum, United States Institute for Peace, ablum@usip.org
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This paper addresses the central question of 'Why do organisations within the peacebuilding field find it difficult to articulate a coherent theory of change that underpins their work?' Drawing on evidence accumulated over many years of interactions with with peacebuilding organizations in developing countries, the paper will assess competing arguments for why this is the case. In particular, a number of these arguments claim that theories of change are a "foreign" or a "western" concept. It is argued that the linear logic of this approach is antithetical to the way local organizations conceptualize their work. Using proposals submitted to the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), the paper assesses these arguments against competing arguments in the literature. Since both "western" and "non-western" organizations submit proposals to USIP, the proposals provide an opportunity to assess if and how the theories of change approach is problematic for non-western organizations.
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| Susan Allen Nan, George Mason University, snan@gmu.edu
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This paper analyzes developmental evaluation in the Georgian-South Ossetian Point of View Process (2008-11). The paper focuses not on the conflict resolution process itself, but on the developmental evaluation that has served as feedback to the facilitation team and participants, input to the process planning, and also as a mode of conflict resolution itself. The process of engaging stakeholders, including parties to the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict, in developmental evaluation has provided a forum for clarifying their goals and theories of change, which have changed over time. This goal clarification serves a conflict resolution function as parties from opposite sides of the war find goals in common as well as goals that diverge. The evaluation results have reshaped the program substantially from the initial classic problem solving workshop design to a new model of catalytic workshops. The evaluation's utility is thus two-pronged: resolving conflict and improving the program design and implementation.
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Evaluating the Influence of Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) on International Policy Development: A Comparative Study of Methodological Approaches
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| Jerome Helfft, International Center for Transitional Justice, jhelfft@ictj.org
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This paper presents a set of methodological approaches for evaluating the influence of NGOs on the development of international policies. It discusses the challenges faced in assessing the impact of efforts to influence policymakers, and describes and reviews several approaches, including case studies based on the sociology-of-organization approach (Crozier and Friedberg work on actors' interests, game and systems) and innovative methodologies of advocacy work at the institutional level. The paper examines the evaluation process of the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) in fostering and shaping the development of the Report of the Secretary-General: "The rule of law and transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict societies (S/2004/616)" issued in August 2004. This evaluation is currently being undertaken by a group of researchers from New York University. The relevance of the theories of change related to reforming the elite in order to achieve peacebuilding or Human Rights goals will be discussed.
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Theories of Change, Youth and Conflict
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| Rebecca J Wolfe, Mercy Corps Conflict Management Group, rwolfe@nyc.mercycorps.org
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The reasons youth participate in violence is multi-faceted. In many places around the world, youth are frustrated by a lack of economic opportunities, avenues for political participation, and meaningful community engagement. To design more effective programs to prevent young people from joining violent movements, we identified 11 "core" theories of change in three main arenas: Economic, Political and Community Engagement. We also designed related indicators to test these theories. In this paper, we will describe our efforts in elucidating these theories and indicators and our efforts to test the theories in a number of our youth programs, including programs in Yemen, Tajikistan, and Kenya. Based on our initial experience testing peacebuilding theories of change in the field, we will discuss the challenges and lessons learned of evaluating theories of change in cross-sectoral programs.
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