Comments on: Getting evaluation right: a five point plan http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=12262 duncan green poverty to power oxfam development Sun, 19 May 2013 17:21:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Jo http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=12262&cpage=1#comment-266371 Jo Thu, 25 Oct 2012 19:40:11 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=12262#comment-266371 Dear Martin, Thanks for your comments. Apologies up front, if my commentary appeared condescending. The goal of the commentary to really present something operationally useful to not just NGOs but organizations. The whole field of evaluation has otherwise become unwieldy with different demands being made at different points in time. The list is not exhaustive as I admit but it's a starting point (I hope). My aim is also not to parody NGOs or any organization. Its really to try and address the often seen frustration *within* organizations as they deal with multiple reporting demands simultaneously, whether its reporting impact and effectiveness, sustainability, process monitoring indicators, cost effectiveness and efficiency or perceptions of (different) stakeholders. You are absolutely right in this sense that the predominant trend in this context has become reporting, although I dont think its limited to demonstrating value for money. Thank you again for your comments. Jo Dear Martin, Thanks for your comments. Apologies up front, if my commentary appeared condescending. The goal of the commentary to really present something operationally useful to not just NGOs but organizations. The whole field of evaluation has otherwise become unwieldy with different demands being made at different points in time. The list is not exhaustive as I admit but it’s a starting point (I hope).

My aim is also not to parody NGOs or any organization. Its really to try and address the often seen frustration *within* organizations as they deal with multiple reporting demands simultaneously, whether its reporting impact and effectiveness, sustainability, process monitoring indicators, cost effectiveness and efficiency or perceptions of (different) stakeholders. You are absolutely right in this sense that the predominant trend in this context has become reporting, although I dont think its limited to demonstrating value for money.

Thank you again for your comments. Jo

]]> By: Martin http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=12262&cpage=1#comment-265779 Martin Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:32:09 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=12262#comment-265779 Well, thanks for the cartoons and no thanks for the condescension. This post perhaps reveals more about the rigid (yes rigid, not rigorous) thinking of the evaluationistas (?) than the NGOs it parodies and preaches to. The zeitgeist isn't transparency, it's the audit culture and pressure from governments and funding agencies to demonstrate certain kinds of value for money. Asking and understanding why will always come second in this world of glorified accountancy. It might after all lead us to ask who evaluates the evaluators. Protocols for doing so are already being registered at The Big Push Forward: http://bigpushforward.net/ Well, thanks for the cartoons and no thanks for the condescension. This post perhaps reveals more about the rigid (yes rigid, not rigorous) thinking of the evaluationistas (?) than the NGOs it parodies and preaches to. The zeitgeist isn’t transparency, it’s the audit culture and pressure from governments and funding agencies to demonstrate certain kinds of value for money. Asking and understanding why will always come second in this world of glorified accountancy. It might after all lead us to ask who evaluates the evaluators. Protocols for doing so are already being registered at The Big Push Forward: http://bigpushforward.net/

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