Abstract
The evaluation of international aid-funded development projects implemented primarily by NGOs usually relies heavily on input from community members. However, the evaluation design and conduct generally does not provide the time, or the opportunity, for the participation of all community members. Informants are often selected according to a statistical sampling method or they are the ‘leaders’ of the community or groups within the community.
In addition, methods used for data collection, such as questionnaires and surveys, can be intimidating to people who are illiterate or who have limited literacy skills, thus alienating large numbers of potential community stakeholders further. The community can be alienated from the evaluation process even more when the data collected from the community, or its representatives, at each evaluation site, is taken away for collation and analysis and is rarely seen again by those who provided it.
This article demonstrates that the situation outlined above need not be the case and that evaluations can be both inclusive and informing for all stakeholders, including donors/commissioners, implementing agencies and the community. The article also contends that this approach to project evaluation, as well as being inclusive and transparent, is also empowering to communities and enhances the sustainability of project outcomes.
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