REVIEW AND EVALUATION
Asking the right questions...
Those involved in partnering, whether as partners, donors or stakeholders, are likely to ask these or similar questions at some stage during the partnering cycle. Whether to justify their involvement, to explore opportunities to improve effectiveness and impact or to reassure themselves that a partnership approach is the best possible approach to achieving desired goals.
Our experience and observation of many types of partnership for sustainable development leads us to believe that there are five distinct elements in a comprehensive approach to review and evaluation. These are:
In our view there is both ‘art’ and ‘science’ involved in reviewing and evaluating partnerships – both imagination and rigour are required. There are also certain critical ‘rules’ about the process if it is to be constructive and not destructive to the partner relationships. For example, we believe that it is essential that partners and key stakeholders are involved in both the design and the implementation of any evaluation / review. It is clear that a high level of participation in the process can:
Our approach
We have developed a range of review processes and tools that we continuously test and refine. Our approach is adaptable to different settings and situations but tends to always include the following elements:
We have completed many different types of partnership review for a wide range of organisations including: Barrick Gold, BP, GAIN, IUCN/ICMM, Rio Tinto, Shell and World Vision.
Using these experiences, together with experiences of partnership practitioners worldwide with whom we have worked, we are producing a tool book: 'Getting Better', that will be the 7th and final in our partnering toolbook series (due for publication in March 2009).
How do you know if a partnership has achieved / is achieving its aims?
How can partners assess whether or not the partnership has delivered real value for the partners?
Is it possible to prove that a partnership approach is better than other alternatives?
What is the evidence that the outcomes from a partnership’s activities will be sustainable?
How can partners / donors ascertain the wider impact of a partnership beyond the impact on direct beneficiaries?
Those involved in partnering, whether as partners, donors or stakeholders, are likely to ask these or similar questions at some stage during the partnering cycle. Whether to justify their involvement, to explore opportunities to improve effectiveness and impact or to reassure themselves that a partnership approach is the best possible approach to achieving desired goals.
Our experience and observation of many types of partnership for sustainable development leads us to believe that there are five distinct elements in a comprehensive approach to review and evaluation. These are:
- Tracking performance: an ongoing measurement of both partner engagement and project delivery to ensure commitments are being fulfilled
- Assessing impacts: of the partnership’s activities / projects to ensure the partnership is achieving its sustainable development goals
- Appraising the partnership: to improve the efficiency / effectiveness of the partnership’s management / decision-making processes
- Reviewing the partnership: to assess / ensure its value / further potential for each partner
- Evaluating the partnership paradigm: to confirm that it is / was better than alternative / single sector / more traditional approaches
In our view there is both ‘art’ and ‘science’ involved in reviewing and evaluating partnerships – both imagination and rigour are required. There are also certain critical ‘rules’ about the process if it is to be constructive and not destructive to the partner relationships. For example, we believe that it is essential that partners and key stakeholders are involved in both the design and the implementation of any evaluation / review. It is clear that a high level of participation in the process can:
- Produce much more accurate information and a richer picture since partnerships are complex and often hard to understand by a complete outsider
- Consolidate and deepen the partner relationships
- Create a much greater sense of ownership of the results by the partners and therefore a greater willingness to implement changes or internalise lessons
Our approach
We have developed a range of review processes and tools that we continuously test and refine. Our approach is adaptable to different settings and situations but tends to always include the following elements:
- Active engagement with all key players in the design, development and delivery of a review
- A facilitated process where we help partners explore the partnership and to understand and articulate what they know
- A feedback loop so findings are internalised within the partner organisations and are used to make practical improvements to the working of the partnership
- A range of communication options to ensure that findings are reported appropriately to different stakeholders
- Capacity and skills-building to enable partners to develop continuous / regular tracking, evaluations and reviews themselves
We have completed many different types of partnership review for a wide range of organisations including: Barrick Gold, BP, GAIN, IUCN/ICMM, Rio Tinto, Shell and World Vision.
Using these experiences, together with experiences of partnership practitioners worldwide with whom we have worked, we are producing a tool book: 'Getting Better', that will be the 7th and final in our partnering toolbook series (due for publication in March 2009).
Contact us to discuss your partnership's review needs
Register your interest in contributing to the 'Getting Better' toolbook.
Register your interest in contributing to the 'Getting Better' toolbook.
