Inter-governmental Evaluation: Balancing Stakeholders' Expectations with Enlightenment Objectives?

Abstract

This article discusses, from an evaluator's point of view, the uses and utility of evaluation in inter-governmental contexts. Empirical data are drawn from the current evaluation of the European Social Fund's (ESF) Objective 3 programme in France.¹

It cannot be expected that the evaluator alone is in a position to assess whether the various stakeholders' expectations have been met in a satisfactory manner. However, the evaluator's mission undoubtedly includes accountability and consideration of the ways in which research is used, contributing to evaluation design and to the process and the scope of findings.² The expectations of the partners involved in the French ESF evaluation will first be analysed in order to highlight the evaluator's contribution. It is argued that, potentially, the benefits of evaluation extend beyond strictly satisfying the expressed needs of direct partners. An inter-governmental context tends to be favourable for such an extension.