Evaluation and Consultancy Service: The QUIZ-Compass under Critical Review
In 2006, the department of International Development Coorperation of Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation (FES) developed a document to improve Quality Management in international development cooperation, called the QUIZ-Compass. After several pilots and revisions the document became mandatory for all country projects in 2010. About the same time the Federal German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) began to work on an improved reporting and porposal System. Thus, in 2012 BMZ introduced new formats which became mandatory for all political foundations.
Given thes developments requirements by the QUIZ-Compass and by the BMZ regulations turned out to be partly overlapping and contradictory. Therefore FES decided to critically Review the QUIZ-Compass. The aim of the evaluation and consultancy Services was first to check whether it is still line with state of the art insights by the impact debate in development cooperation. Secondly, the practicability of the tool was tested. Finally, recommendations to enhance the QUIZ-Compass were derived.
Compliation of methodological approaches and experiences for impact Evaluations of Training and capacity building measures in the public sector
In cooperation with the Costa Rican institute CICAP, CEval counselled the GIZ program CADESAN in the Andean region. The regional program supports the development of capacity building measures on decentralization and modernization in the public sector.
The consultancy aimed at providing GIZ and its partners with an analysis and compilation of possible methodological approaches to evaluate the impacts of capacity building and training measures. To that end, various approaches and evaluation designs, their applicability in the respective realm as well as international experiences and practices were analyzed. The results were discussed with GIZ and its partners during a training designed for that purpose.
Project Evaluation of GIZ’s Sector Project Inclusion of persons with Disabilities
As part of the project evaluation, the extent to which the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) sector programme Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities was able to achieve developmental impacts was examined. Based on the OECD-DAC criteria, expert interviews and focus group discussions were conducted and M&E data from the sector programme and other documents were systematically analysed. This contributed to accountability towards the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the publication of a short report met the requirements of the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) and laid the foundation for planning a follow-up measure.
Evaluation of the Initiative “Schulen – Partner der Zukunft” (PASCH)
The initiative Schools Partners of the future (PASCH), founded in 2008, is part of the central initiatives of the German foreign cultural and educational policy within the current legislature period. PASCH is a worldwide network currently including around 1800 partner schools, which are linked to Germany and especially teach German. The initiative concentrates diversified measures, which are supposed to contribute to establish lively and long-term relations to Germany, and encourage schools, teachers and students to exchange their knowledge and ideas as well as to work together. PASCH is coordinated by the German Federal Foreign Office and is implemented by the Central Office for Schools Abroad, the Goethe Institute, the Pedagogic Exchange Service, the Conference of Education Ministers and the German Academic Exchange Service.
Within the scope of the planned evaluation, PASCH will be analyzed regarding its relevance, efficiency, effectivity, impact and sustainability. It will also be analyzed to what extent the existing offers, processes and structures are suitable instruments for achieving the objectives. Recommendations for possible optimization of the measures, processes and structures and the creation of synergies will be derived on the basis of these results.
The evaluation is divided into two phases: During the first phase, document analyses as well as guided personal and telephone interviews with stakeholders in Germany and selected partner countries (Poland, Turkey and China) will be conducted. The focus of the second phase is then on quantitative online surveys with target groups in China, Turkey and Poland as well as on qualitative and quantitative data collection in another case study country.
Evaluation of the project ‘Media in Libya: Stability through reconciliation’
The object of this evaluation was the project ‘Media in Libya: Stability through reconciliation’ (MLSR) of the DW Akademie. MLSR was a follow-up of the precursor project Media in Libya: Stability through Structure. The overall goal of MLSR was to enable a process of public discourse and eventually reconciliation across a fragmented Libyan society prerequisites for development of democratic reform and constitutional process in the country. By promoting [the] right to access to information to the people of Libya and [the] freedom of expression in Libya (DW Akademie, 2017, p. 4). The approach of MLSR is fourfold (i.e., four activity clusters): (1) supporting Libyan institutions/authorities efforts in the field of media governance, (2) developing a Libyan Media Network, (3) training local freelance journalists from all regions of Libya with a special focus on ethnic minorities and gender, and (4) providing grants for Libyan media projects.
The evaluation of MLSR had been considered as a planned impact evaluation, which needs valid qualitative/quantitative data on the situation at the beginning of MLSR (i.e., baseline). The second stage of evaluation (i.e., interim evaluation) started in January 2019. Comparing the results of baseline and interim evaluation, the evaluators had been able to identify and assess the preliminary effects of MLSR. Moreover, the evaluators may give first recommendations on how to improve MLSR (e.g., identification of [un]successful project strategies, alternative actions). The third stage of evaluation started shortly after the end of MLSR (i.e., January 2021). The main goal of the final evaluation was to assess the effectiveness of MLSR (i.e., achievements in relevant targeted areas).
Methodologically, a robust mixed-method approach was pursued against the background of the very volatile and difficult framework conditions in Libya: Secondary analysis of existing documents/data, content analysis of short written and in-depth oral interviews and statistical analysis of quantitative data from a standardized questionnaire survey.
Evaluation of the Funding Activities of the Foundation Environment and Development North Rhine-Westphalia
The Foundation Environment and Development North Rhine-Westphalia was founded 2001 and promotes mainly volunteer environmental and development work of civil society groups. The objective of the foundation is to support the environmental and development work in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) in order to establish this work in the consciousness and in the practical involvement of the population permanently and at the state of the art.
For this purpose about 1,100 projects of non-profit organisations in NRW were supported with a volume of EUR 47.5 million so far. In addition, the Foundation carries out its own projects, to also promote the implementation of Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in in 1994.
Within the evaluation, the results and effects of the funding activities of the Foundation were recorded and assessed. Furthermore, the evaluation was intended to find out information on potential inhibitory and / or promoting factors in the funding activities of the Foundation with respect to the foundation goals. Based on these findings recommendations on priorities of the Foundation with regard to content, actors, target groups and the methods and formats will be derived.
CEval applied a mixed method approach to collect relevant data. Therefore, relevant documents and accessible data of the foundation and of funded projects will be analysed. This will be combined with data based on qualitative guideline-based interviews with several stakeholders and standardised online surveys of current and completed projects.
Assessing Effectiveness and Impact of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a global standard to promote open and accountable management of natural resources. It seeks to strengthen government and company systems, inform public debate, and enhance trust. In each implementing country it is supported by a coalition of governments, companies and civil society working together.
The GIZ has mandated an evaluation of the initiative based on the following objectives:
- Evaluate the outcomes, effectiveness and impact (positive and negative, intended and unintended) of EITI against the backdrop of the EITI MDTF Results Framework, and to shed light on the links between transparency, accountability and, possibly, wider development outcomes.
- Assess EITIs theory of change and the EITI MDTF Results Framework in order to develop an improved generic EITI Results Model and assist selected MSGs to develop specific national EITI Results Models and to derive impact-oriented indicators from it.
These objectives and the complexity of EITIs context required a tailor-made design. The methodology combined
- macro-quantitative statistical analyses
- in-depth case studies
- participatory approaches to operationalization, data collection and analysis of findings.
Under the coordination of LBN Strategies and in collaboration with further consultants, the Center for Evaluation took the lead in the study component Approaches and Methodology.
Case Study for Thuringia in the course of the Evaluation of the European Dynamics for DEAR Efficiency Project
CEval was mandated by Planète Publique (Paris) with the accomplishment of a case study in the course of the evaluation of the EU-project European Dynamics for DEAR Efficiency. The project aimed on supporting developmental education work in four European regions (Thuringia/ Germany, Picardie/ France, Marches/ Italy und Luxembourg/ Belgium) as well as encouraging the exchange and mutual learning of the participating actors. In Thuringia, different developmental education measures and networking activities on a regional and European level were fostered. For the creation of the case study CEval was carrying out guideline based expert interviews with different project stakeholder.
Meta-Evaluation World Vision Germany
For the second time World Vision Germany (WVG) has engaged CEval to conduct a meta-evaluation of 29 evaluation reports of its long-term Area Development Programmes. The aim of the evaluation was to analyze the reports with regard to their quality and validity. Beyond this assessment, CEval provided recommendations to enhance the design and implementation of future evaluation. Based on the OECD/DAC evaluation criteria relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability, CEval implemented a two-tier analysis method. According to WVGs quality criteria (i.e. voice and inclusion, transparency, appropriateness of evaluation methods, methodology, triangulation, and contribution) we first assessed to which extent the evaluation reports complied with various sub-criteria within one criterion. In a second step, we consolidated findings and deviated one aggregated rating per criterion. CEval additionally examined the criteria satisfaction of information needs and organization of findings/conceptualization of change.
This year, additionally an online survey investigating the utility, usage and usefulness of evaluation findings within WV has been conducted. The semi-standardized questionnaire contained questions concerning the quality of evaluation reports against several criteria, similar to the above mentioned ones to compare the perception of quality within WV with the results from the document analysis. Furthermore, qualitative data has been collected to get insights into the usage, utility and usefulness of evaluation results.
Moreover, CEval evaluated the transparency of WVGs published impact report. It critically reviewed the report and rated it against the following criteria: comprehensibility, presentation of the relevant information for the target group, methodological approach, validity of the used data and sources, objectivity, and access.
Meta-evaluation of project evaluations 2014-2015
Misereor supports a large number of development projects that are carried out by partner organizations. The evaluation of these projects, commissioned by the partner organizations or by Misereor, makes an important contribution to information and learning. Together with Evaluation.consulting, CEval was commissioned to carry out a meta-evaluation of the evaluations from 2014-2015. The aim was to collect meaningful information on the quality of the evaluations commissioned by partners and thus bring about possible improvements in the area of quality assurance.
The meta-evaluation was essentially based on the DAC standards and principles. Methodologically, a representative number of studies were subjected to a baseline check in the first stage in order to be able to draw quality conclusions from the breadth of the studies. The criteria of completeness and appropriateness of the documentation, independence, credibility and usefulness were assessed on the basis of various sub-criteria and then aggregated.
In a second step, some of the studies that fulfill a special learning function were subjected to an intensive analysis of these and other criteria. Mainly the evaluation reports were analyzed, but also related documents such as terms of reference and general Misereor documents on the topic. In addition, individual interviews were also conducted to answer specific research questions.
