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.
Accompanying and consulting of the impact assessment/baseline update of HEKS Bangladesh country program
HEKS/EPER’s Bangladesh 2013-1016 country programme aimed to promote the social inclusion of marginalized and disenfranchised minorities in north-western Bangladesh. The various interventions primarily targeted urban and rural Dalit and lowland Adibashi communities, who suffer from complex forms of discrimination. The exclusion of both minorities is a key cause of conflict between minorities and mainstream society. HEKS wanted to promote the social inclusion of the two groups with a human rights approach and a value chain approach.
HEKS wanted to measure the impact of the last project phase and at the same time collect valid baseline data for the next program phase. The CEval supported HEKS in this. The impact of the program was to be recorded with the help of household surveys and the qualitative method of contribution analysis. CEval mainly supported HEKS in the preparation of the quantitative data collection and the quantitative data analysis. CEval prepared the sampling strategy, helped with the development of the survey instruments and with the statistical analysis of the data. In the latter, it was particularly important to combine the previously collected data with the newly collected data in such a way that valid conclusions could be drawn from the statistical analysis.
Monitoring & Evaluation of slum rehabilitation project in Brazil
Jointly with a local partner, Knorr-Bremse Global Care e.V. (KBGC) supports a training and rehabilitation project in a community in Grajaú, a slum district in Sao Paolo, Brasil. The project aims at improving the living conditions of the community by qualifying young people for self-sustained income-generation and rehabilitating the area by building wooden houses. Main activities include training of youth in civil construction and set up of sustainable housing by residents of the slum and the trained youth.
KBGC commissioned CEval to establish a Monitoring & Evaluation framework to gather feedback on the training activities and trace quality of life outcomes over time to assess whether the programs objectives are being achieved. In order to identify the outcomes of the training on the qualification of the participants and their application of knowledge gained, a time-series design was applied, implying several phases of data collection with the help of standardized survey questionnaires. Outcomes of students were traced every six months over a period of three years, with baseline, monitoring and end line reports were drafted after each data collection to support organizational learning and improvement on project design.
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.
Energising Development (EnDev) stove assessment study in Ethiopia
The project Energising Development (EnDev), implemented by the GIZ, is a joint initiative of the governments of Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom. Focus of this stove assessment study is the Energy Coordination Office (ECO), also known as EnDev Ethiopia. EnDev Ethiopia supports the development of a commercial stove sector and sustainable stove market not only by improving the business and technical skills of stove producers but also by strengthening the demand side of households.
The objective of this stove assessment study was therefore
- to analyze and assess the project intervention in three regions in Ethiopia by using the EnDev internal sustainability criteria and the HERA Sustainability Assessment Framework (HERA Poverty-Oriented Basic Energy Services);
- to generate recommendations for future steering of EnDevs project implementation.
Following a mixed methods approach, the study relied on standardised and qualitative methods of data collection in addition to the document analysis of relevant project and sector papers. CEval contributed to the study by providing its methodological expertise in data collection and analysis.
Meta-evaluation of 34 evaluation reports on the Area Development Programmes of World Vision Germany
World Vision Germany (WVG) had engaged CEval to conduct a meta-evaluation of 34 evaluation reports of its 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 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) it had been first assessed to which extent the evaluation reports comply with various sub-criteria within one criterion. In a second step, findings had been consolidated and deviated one aggregated rating per criterion.
Moreover, CEval supported WVG in the production of their impact reports by critical commenting and methodological counselling.