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	<title>Monitoring and Evaluation NEWS &#187; Types of Events</title>
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	<link>http://mande.co.uk</link>
	<description>A news service focusing on developments in monitoring and evaluation methods relevant to development programmes with social development objectives. Managed by Rick Davies, since 1997</description>
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		<title>Assessing the impact of human rights work: Challenges and Choices</title>
		<link>http://mande.co.uk/2012/coming-events/workshops/assessing-the-impact-of-human-rights-work-challenges-and-choices/</link>
		<comments>http://mande.co.uk/2012/coming-events/workshops/assessing-the-impact-of-human-rights-work-challenges-and-choices/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:43:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rick davies</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Workshops]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[impact assessment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mande.co.uk/?p=3880</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
			
				
			
		
The International Council on Human Rights Policy has produced two documents under the above named project(See here for details of the project):

No Perfect Measure: Rethinking Evaluationand Assessment of Human Rights Work. Report of a Workshop, January 2012. Contents: Introduction and Context,,A Brief History,,NGO Hesitations, The Shift, Assessing the Impact of Policy Research, Impact Assessment in [...]]]></description>
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<p>The International Council on Human Rights Policy has produced two documents under the above named project(<a href="http://www.ichrp.org/en/projects/181">See here for details of the project</a>):</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.ichrp.org/files/reports/68/181_evaluating_hr_work_report.pdf">No Perfect Measure: Rethinking Evaluationand Assessment of Human Rights Work</a>. Report of a Workshop, January 2012. Contents: Introduction and Context,,A Brief History,,NGO Hesitations, The Shift, Assessing the Impact of Policy Research, Impact Assessment in the context of Advocacy, Impact Assessment in the context of Capacity Building and Development, The Donor perspective, Third-Party Perspectives—Building a bridge, A note on integrating Human Rights Principles into development work, References, Selected Additional Bibliographic Resources</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ichrp.org/files/papers/186/impact_assessment_human_rights_approach_paper.pdf">Role and Relevance of Human Rights Principles in Impact Assessment: An Approach Paper</a>. July 2011. Contents: Introduction and Context, A Brief History, NGO Hesitations, The Shift, Assessing the Impact of Policy Research, Impact Assessment in the context of Advocacy<br />
Impact Assessment in the context of Capacity Building and Development<br />
The Donor perspective, Third-Party Perspectives—Building a bridge<br />
A note on integrating Human Rights Principles into development work<br />
References, Selected Additional Bibliographic Resources</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Conference about “The Future of Evaluation in Modern Societies”, Germany.</title>
		<link>http://mande.co.uk/2012/coming-events/conferences/conference-about-the-future-of-evaluation-in-modern-societies-germany/</link>
		<comments>http://mande.co.uk/2012/coming-events/conferences/conference-about-the-future-of-evaluation-in-modern-societies-germany/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:40:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rick davies</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Types of Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[germany]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mande.co.uk/?p=3866</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[ 14 June, 2012 to 15 June, 2012. ] "The Center for Evaluation (CEval) of Saarland University, Germany, is a globally active research institute for applied social science in the field of evaluation and member of the DeGEval (German Evaluation Society). On this occasion, we organize an international conference about “The Future of Evaluation in Modern Societies” on 14th and 15th June 2012 in [...]]]></description>
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<p>&#8220;The Center for Evaluation (CEval) of Saarland University, Germany, is a globally active research institute for applied social science in the field of evaluation and member of the DeGEval (German Evaluation Society). On this occasion, we organize an international conference about “The Future of Evaluation in Modern Societies” on 14th and 15th June 2012 in Saarbruecken, Germany.</p>
<p>The objective of this event is to discuss the role of evaluation in societies comprehensively and on an international comparison for bringing different discussion strands together into a joint debate. For keynote speeches and lectures, we could already win numerous renowned scientists from the USA, Latin America, Africa and Europe.</p>
<p>Please find the detailed program and registration form on our homepage: <a href="http://futureofevaluation.ceval.de/" target="_blank">http://futureofevaluation.<wbr>ceval.de</wbr></a></p>
<p>You also find a review about our recent book “A Practioner Handbook on Evaluation” which will appeal to evaluation practitioners, policy-makers who conduct evaluations in their daily work, students training in applied research and organizations which are implementing projects and programs that could be the subject of an evaluation.</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<wbr>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;</wbr></p>
<p>Maria Albrecht,  M.A., Center for Evaluation (CEval), Saarland University, P.O. Box 15 11 50, 66041 Saarbrücken &#8211; Germany, Fon: <a href="tel:%2B49%20%280%29681%20302-3561" target="_blank">+49 (0)681 302-3561</a>, Fax: <a href="tel:%2B49%20%280%29681%20302-3899" target="_blank">+49 (0)681 302-3899</a>, <a href="http://www.ceval.de/" target="_blank">www.ceval.de</a></p>
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		<title>UKES CONFERENCE 2012  Evaluation for results: What counts? Who stands to gain? How is it done?</title>
		<link>http://mande.co.uk/2012/coming-events/conferences/ukes-conference-2012-evaluation-for-results-what-counts-who-stands-to-gain-how-is-it-done/</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:39:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rick davies</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Types of Events]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mande.co.uk/?p=3864</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[ 16 March, 2012; ] 16 March 2012
The Macdonald Hotel, Birmingham

[from UKES website] UKES conferences address leading issues of the day in programme and policy evaluation. The 2012 Annual Conference will address the current drive towards evaluation focused on results – frequently linked to 'Payment by Results' and what, in international development and elsewhere, is familiar as ‘Results-Based Management'.

Evaluators and [...]]]></description>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">16 March 2012<br />
The Macdonald Hotel, Birmingham</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">[<a href="http://www.evaluation.org.uk/conferences.aspx">from UKES website</a>] UKES conferences address leading issues of the day in programme and policy evaluation. The 2012 Annual Conference will address the current drive towards evaluation focused on results – frequently linked to &#8216;Payment by Results&#8217; and what, in international development and elsewhere, is familiar as ‘Results-Based Management&#8217;.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Evaluators and those who commission evaluation who advocate a focus on results reflect a legitimate concern with the productivity and efficiency of programmes and the capacity of interventions to secure gains and improvements in practice and provision. They point out that programmes should be held to account to accomplish what they were designed to do and paid for, often out of public funds. A primary focus on results seeks to emphasise main effects and outcomes that have been valued and agreed. In times of austerity and unusually scarce resources, proponents of a strong focus on results argue that emphasising value for money is socially responsible. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Others argue that an over-emphasis on measuring a programme’s results neglects important questions of how results are generated in a context, whether results capture the real quality and accomplishments of a programme, and how those results may reflect the values and ambitions of all programme stakeholders. They remind us of secondary effects and ‘unintended beneficiaries’ of programmes that may not be readily captured by results. Some also raise questions about the source of criteria over what counts as a worthwhile result given that not all programme achievements can be measured, and stakeholders may differ over a programme’s objectives.  </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Against this background conference participants are invited to contribute their own perspectives on the dominant issues they consider relevant to the theory and practice of evaluation in the public interest. We anticipate a lively and informative debate to stimulate professional learning and to contribute to the improvement of evaluation practice and commissioning. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Potential contributors are invited to propose discussions, seminar presentations, lectures or poster sessions which explore issues around this theme. Those issues may fall within one of the following categories &#8211; though you are invited to propose your own theme:?</span></p>
<ul>
<li>How do we define a valid &#8216;result&#8217; and whose results get counted?</li>
<li>How do we best measure a result – including taking account of counterfactuals?</li>
<li>How do we understand where results came from, what significance they have and whether they can be replicated &#8211; i.e. what is the relation between a result and context?</li>
<li>Where do benchmarks come from to measure results achievement?</li>
<li>If a result is, say, a 4% improvement &#8211; how do we know whether that is a lot or a little under the circumstances?</li>
<li>How do we represent the circumstances and mechanisms that give rise to a result?</li>
<li>How do we account for programme accomplishments that are not represented in results?</li>
<li>Is results-measurement a robust foundation for replication/extension of a programme?</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">A formal call for papers and proposals for sessions will be circulated shortly.  The conference will be preceded on 15 March 2012 with a choice of training workshops on specialist topics.</span></p>
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		<title>The Big Push forward: The Australian Debate (Oct 2011)</title>
		<link>http://mande.co.uk/2011/coming-events/debate/the-big-push-forward-the-australian-debate-oct-2011/</link>
		<comments>http://mande.co.uk/2011/coming-events/debate/the-big-push-forward-the-australian-debate-oct-2011/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:21:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rick davies</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Debate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[aggregation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[complexity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[good practice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[organisational learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[peer review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sensemaking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[storytelling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[values]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[
			
				
			
		

October 26, 2011 by Chris Roche.

On 19 October 2011, Oxfam Australia hosted a ‘Big Push Forward‘ event in Melbourne with the co-conveners of this initiative – Rosalind Eyben and Irene Guijt. Sixty development practitioners, including AusAid staff and academics came together to discuss whether the concerns voiced by the Big Push Forward project are relevant [...]]]></description>
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<div>October 26, 2011 by Chris Roche.</div>
</div>
<p>On 19 October 2011, <a href="http://www.oxfam.org.au/">Oxfam Australia</a> hosted a <a href="http://bigpushforward.wordpress.com/">‘Big Push Forward</a>‘ event in Melbourne with the co-conveners of this initiative – <a href="http://www.sussex.ac.uk/ids/profile144460.html">Rosalind Eyben</a> and <a href="http://www.cognitive-edge.com/directoryrecord.php?ID=4621">Irene Guijt</a>. Sixty development practitioners, including AusAid staff and academics came together to discuss whether the concerns voiced by the Big Push Forward project are relevant in Australia.</p>
<p><strong> HOW RELEVANT ARE THE ISSUES TO AUSTRALIA?</strong></p>
<p>Following an introduction from Rosalind and Irene, we  had short inputs from three speakers on how these issues resonated in our part of the world.  <strong>Dennis Altman</strong>, from the <a href="http://www.latrobe.edu.au/humansecurity/">Institute of Human Security</a>, at La Trobe University suggested that the neo-liberal language which permeates Western society has been recast in the development world. into an auditing culture, focusing on evaluation, monitoring, and counting beans.  <strong>Marc Purcell</strong> the CEO of Australia’s International NGO umbrella group <a href="http://www.acfid.asn.au/">ACFID</a> noted that the commitment to international aid in Australia is extremely brittle, and that the public debate about aid in Australia has led to a deep anxiety in government about how the aid programme is being perceived. But he argued that maybe it’s no bad thing for economists to look at the work of ‘pampered NGOs’. <strong>Jess Dart</strong>, the Managing Director of consulting company <a href="http://www.clearhorizon.com.au/our-people/dr-jess-dart-managing-director/">Clear Horizon</a>, felt that whilst Australian NGOs do more internal evaluation than most there was a view expressed at this year’s <a href="http://www.aes.asn.au/conferences/">Australasian Evaluation Conference</a> that ‘development is the cowboy of evaluation’.  If we can’t tell the story of what we’ve done, people will ask for results. There are lots of really good methods out there and we can use these to offer solid alternatives to tell more complex stories of transformation.</p>
<p><strong>OZIFYING THE THEMES</strong><br />
<span id="more-3753"></span><br />
We explored the seven themes that the Big Push Forward website is focusing upon and discussed how  to ‘ozify’ them.  Groups worked on specific clusters to generate ideas for ‘pushing forward’.  This included 5 of the original 7 clusters and one new one focused on Program Design and Evaluation. After a process of <a href="http://www.cognitive-edge.com/method.php?mid=46">ritual dissent</a>, facilitated by Irene, final ideas were presented.</p>
<p><strong><em>1.       </em></strong><strong>Developing different methods of reporting</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><em>“<strong>Making sense of it all</strong>”. </em>Look at<em> </em>alternative forms of aggregation and sense-making using the cluster to make a call for ideas about what’s going on and how to engage others.  This should include exploring means of more direct citizen-to-citizen dialogue</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>2.  Reclaiming value for money</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong><em>“ Research to Surface Valuing and Values”. </em></strong><em>C</em>ollaborate amongst agencies, to find out what has been the experience of value for money in Australia and AusAID and the piloting of new approaches.  This would allow the main approaches to be understood, and the values that underpin them to be better understood.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>3.  Organisational learning and reflective practice</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong><em>“A Practitioners’ forum to build commitment to organisational learning and reflective practice” . </em></strong>Set up an inter-agency  forum on M&amp;E to look at: methodologies for reflective practice and organisational learning, build capacities to ensure better reflection, documenting different models for reflective practice, discussions around conceptual model and practical implications.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>4.  Communicating to the public</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong><em>“Market complexity to the marketers”. </em></strong><em>D</em>o more internally in our organisations with those that speak to the public and help them communicate the day-to-day practice on the ground.  We could explore the use of community forums to engage the public in terms of complexity of aid.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong> </strong><strong>5.   Challenging dominant discourses</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong><em>“ Unsettling storytelling from Aboriginal Australia”. </em></strong>Use story-telling and narrative methods to try to unsettle some of the debates about Results Based Management in order to ask the difficult questions e.g. what does development actually mean and what does it mean to those being developed? This would highlight the difficulties and create better understanding through creating this connection for Australian people.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><em>6.  </em>Program design</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong><em>“ Peer and Public Review for Good Practice”. </em></strong>Develop a forum that creates more space for program designs that hold the qualities of community participation, co-creation, &amp; voice in determining the results. Use a virtual peer process from different agencies and public peer review enabling commentary from others.</li>
</ul>
<p><em> </em><strong>WRAPPING IT UP</strong></p>
<p>In our final session four people were asked to share their reflections on what they heard</p>
<p><strong>Chris Nelson</strong> from AusAID and soon to be with the <a href="http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTLAWJUSTICE/EXTJUSFORPOOR/0,,contentMDK:21172652%7EmenuPK:3282951%7EpagePK:210058%7EpiPK:210062%7EtheSitePK:3282787,00.html">World Bank Justice for the Poor</a> program suggested there were lots of ingredients but we needed to bake the cake. He also noted that there were several opportunities to engage with AusAID in the next six months in particular as there are some gaps and a need for innovation in their current results framework. He also advised of the importance of building internal networks and coalitions within institutions on this agenda.</p>
<p><strong>Rosalind Eyben</strong> remarked that there seemed to be several spaces for BPF engagement: internally in our own organisations; in communities of practice between organisations; with AusAID and internationally as Australia engages more strategically within the international aid system and international policy fora. Rosalind in particular liked the idea of story-telling here in Australia in order to communicate what actually happens to people and their small organisations as the results agenda impinges upon them.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse/About%20RMIT%2FContact%2FAll%20contacts%2F;ID=7fz4dh1rd7qo;STATUS=A">Patricia Rogers</a>, Professor in Public Sector Evaluation at RMIT University, noted that many of the ideas suggested are based on sharing good examples of practice.  She identified some common issues that need to be addressed: Who says it’s good practice? How do we distinguish between ‘this sounds like a good idea’ to ‘this has been done and we can show it makes a difference’? How do we create space to do things differently? How might we leverage resources together and with our partners? (see for example <a href="http://betterevaluation.org/">BetterEvaluation.org</a>)</p>
<p><strong>Jo Crawford</strong>, a Research and Policy Advisor at the <a href="http://iwda.org.au/">International Women’s Development Agency</a>, felt it critical to consider the tension between acting now on this agenda versus taking the time to define what we need to do.  Jo made a plea for process and participation in these conversations. Otherwise values will be narrowly defined. This requires a diversity of views and voices around the table when frameworks are being established</p>
<p><strong>LOTS OF ENERGY</strong></p>
<p>This was a day which demonstrated a lot of energy, ideas and willingness to engage on this agenda. After the meeting one of the participants Helen Sullivan, the new Director of the <a href="http://public-policy.unimelb.edu.au/">Centre for Public Policy</a> (CPP) at Melbourne University wrote the following after attending a couple of other events which touched upon the same issues.</p>
<p>“<em>…there is useful work that CPP can do in helping policy makers (politicians, professionals and ‘publics’) navigate the policy world they inhabit, which is not the world as it is often constructed in text books and guides where rational, reasonable actors with the necessary time and space define, design and deliberate policy problems and solutions to a ‘good’ end, but rather comprises actors who are motivated by reason <strong>and</strong> emotion, driven by evidence <strong>and </strong>values, and where the boundary between politics <strong>and</strong> policy is often blurred.  This is not to deny the potential value of evidence-based policymaking but to assert that politics, evidence and democratic institutions co-exist and that each are informed by values and power relationships that can facilitate and limit the quality of policy and policymaking.”</em></p>
<p>Hear! Hear!</p>
<p>We urge all participants who were at the Melbourne meeting, and others interested in this debate in Australia, to join the Big Push Forward and share your thoughts and experiences.</p>
<p>Chris Roche and Susan Hornbeck</p>
<p>25 October 2011</p>
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		<title>27 Oct Symposium: NGO-IDEAs &#8211; grassroots based impact monitoring</title>
		<link>http://mande.co.uk/2011/coming-events/workshops/27-oct-symposium-ngo-ideas-grassroots-based-impact-monitoring/</link>
		<comments>http://mande.co.uk/2011/coming-events/workshops/27-oct-symposium-ngo-ideas-grassroots-based-impact-monitoring/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:55:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rick davies</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Types of Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Workshops]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Civil Society / NGO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[impact monitoring]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tools]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mande.co.uk/?p=3738</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[ 27 October, 2011; ] Date: 27 October 2011
Venue: Bonn, Germany
Dear all,
For the last three years, 14 German NGOs with 40 NGOs from Asia and Africa have been working to develop tools for assessing change and its causes, in short: impact monitoring that were to be specifically relevant for NGOs. Under the name of NGO-IDEAs, tools were developed through which [...]]]></description>
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<p><span class="eventdate">Date: 27 October 2011</span><br />
<span class="eventvenue">Venue: Bonn, Germany</span></p>
<div>Dear all,</div>
<div>For the last three years, 14 German NGOs with 40 NGOs from Asia and Africa have been working to develop tools for assessing change and its causes, in short: impact monitoring that were to be specifically relevant for NGOs. Under the name of NGO-IDEAs, tools were developed through which target groups set their own goals and monitor their achievements. NGOs  and in some cases government agencies use the data generated for quantitative and qualitative assessment and reporting on outcome/impact.</div>
<div>Filtering according to poverty category is possible. The tools have been successfully applied in various sectors (from Saving and Credit through lactating mothers and primary schools to the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities). NGOs in East Africa, South Asia and the Philippines are now sustaining the application of the tools and spread them spontaneously to other projects and organisations. Programs have been improved through the tools and the application itself leads to more ownership and autonomy of grassroot organisations.</div>
<div>On Oct 27, the results of the 3-year phase will be discussed publicly. Two partners Mary Mate, Catholic Diocese of Embu; Kenya and Alma de la Paz, Kapwa Upliftment Foundation, Philippines) will present their experiences and international experts will discuss the approach. Speakers and Panel: Christiane Bögemann-Hagedorn, Head of Civil Society and Economy Department and Michaela Zintl, Head of Evaluation Department (BMZ/German Ministry for Development), Robert Chambers IDS Sussex), Cecile Kusters (Centre of Development Innovation,Wageningen), Susanne Neubert (National Opinion Research Centre at the University of Chicago, Dörte Segebart, Freie Universität, Berlin).</div>
<div>Some places are still available. More information and the registration form: <a href="http://www.ngo-ideas.net/news/" target="_blank" class="broken_link">http://www.ngo-ideas.net/news/</a><wbr>, items of 10/10/2011 and 06/30/2011.</wbr></div>
<div>Publications can be downloaded from <a href="http://www.ngo-ideas.net/publications" target="_blank">www.ngo-ideas.net/publications</a><wbr>. The symposium focuses on the Impact Toolbox &#8211; one of three main products of NGO-IDEAs.<br />
</wbr></div>
<p>Check the Impact Toolbox: <a href="http://www.ngo-ideas.net/impact_toolbox/" target="_blank">http://www.ngo-ideas.net/<wbr>impact_toolbox/</wbr></a> and<br />
the Field Experience: <a href="http://www.ngo-ideas.net/field_experiences/" target="_blank">http://www.ngo-ideas.net/<wbr>field_experiences/</wbr></a></p>
<p>NGO-IDEAs also has an advisory role to VENRO, the German development NGO&#8217;s umbrella body. VENRO recently published a position paper &#8220;Quality before Proof&#8221; that sets &#8220;empowerment&#8221; as one of four purposes of impact observation. <a href="http://www.venro.de/evaluation.html" target="_blank">http://www.venro.de/<wbr>evaluation.html</wbr></a>. The symposium takes place in the wider context of this paper that has generated some discussion in Germany.</p>
<p>Kind regards</p>
<p>Bernward Causemann/NGO-IDEAs</p>
<p>&#8211;<br />
Bernward Causemann, <a href="http://www.causemann.org/" target="_blank">www.causemann.org</a></p>
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		<title>Workshop: Case Studies in Development Evaluation: Validity, Generalisation and Learning</title>
		<link>http://mande.co.uk/2011/coming-events/workshops/workshop-case-studies-in-development-evaluation-validity-generalisation-and-learning/</link>
		<comments>http://mande.co.uk/2011/coming-events/workshops/workshop-case-studies-in-development-evaluation-validity-generalisation-and-learning/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:36:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rick davies</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Types of Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Workshops]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[case study]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Denmark]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[workshop]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[[ 21 May, 2012 to 23 May, 2012. ] Venue: University of Copenhagen
Date: May 21-23, 2012
Invitation and Call for Papers to International Workshop
Centre for Social Science Development Research

The Evaluation Department of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Centre for Social Science Development Research at Institute of Food and Resource Economics at the University of Copenhagen are pleased to invite you to submit [...]]]></description>
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<p><span class="eventvenue">Venue: University of Copenhagen</span><br />
<span class="eventdate">Date: May 21-23, 2012</span><br />
Invitation and Call for Papers to International Workshop<br />
Centre for Social Science Development Research</p>
<p>The Evaluation Department of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Centre for Social Science Development Research at Institute of Food and Resource Economics at the University of Copenhagen are pleased to invite you to submit an abstract (preparatory to a full paper) to an International Workshop, which will focus on methodological and practical considerations when using case studies in evaluations of development. The workshop will be organised in collaboration with the journal Evaluation:the international journal of theory, research and practice.</p>
<p>A large number of development evaluations are broader, learning-oriented evaluations based on cases at country, sector or project level. A key challenge in these evaluations is how to deal with the question of external validity. Within the field of development evaluation the methodological and practical debate on how to address this issue has been relatively limited.</p>
<p>The Organising Committee of the International Workshop is seeking abstracts that address theoretical/methodological challenges as well as more practical experiences when using case studies in learning-oriented development evaluations. Abstracts could e.g. focus on:<span id="more-3678"></span></p>
<ul>
<li>Case sampling, analytical strategies and external validity</li>
<li>Experience with balancing concerns for relevance and learning with analytical depth</li>
<li>Meta, synthetic and comparative studies</li>
<li>Theoretical and methodological frameworks</li>
<li> Country versus donor produced case studies</li>
<li> Integrating quantitative and qualitative methods</li>
</ul>
<p>The workshop will be focussed around international development assistance and how it might be best evaluated through case studies. Whilst the Organising Committee is interested in lessons that can be learned from other fields, priority will be given to development assistance oriented contributions that also have something innovative to say about the use of case studies<br />
and to original methodological contributions that can be linked with development cooperation.</p>
<p>Different types of evaluation experience are welcome: From evaluations dealing with different projects, to multi-country thematic evaluations and meta or synthesis studies. Similarly, presentations from participants with different perspectives (evaluation officers, researchers, evaluators, evaluation users) are encouraged, so as to enhance the discussion on the strengths and weaknesses, implications and prerequisites of using case studies.</p>
<p>Abstracts should be 150-200 words (1 page) in length, and should contain the title, purpose of the paper/presentation, methodology, and anticipated results or conclusions. Abstracts must contain enough information for the referees to evaluate your contributions. Please make sure to provide name of author(s), affiliation, senior author’s title, e-mail address, mailing address, and phone and fax numbers. The number of participants will be limited to 60.</p>
<p>The following deadlines apply:</p>
<ul>
<li>Abstract submission (in Word or PDF format): December 15, 2011</li>
<li>Notification of acceptance of Abstract: February 15, 2012</li>
<li>Registration deadline: May 4, 2012</li>
</ul>
<p>Submission: Please e-mail your abstract or paper to <a href="mailto:olewin@um.dk">olewin@um.dk</a></p>
<p>Note: The workshop will not be able to cover the costs of plane tickets and accommodation for participants.</p>
<p>Contact Information:<br />
Ole Winckler Andersen<br />
E-mail: olewin@um.dk<br />
Telephone: +45 3392 0236 (cell phone: +45 2338 6328)<br />
Postal Address:<br />
Evaluation Department<br />
Ministry of Foreign Affairs<br />
Asiatisk Plads 2<br />
DK &#8211; 1448 Copenhagen K<br />
Denmark</p>
<p>Organizing Committee</p>
<p>Ole Winckler Andersen, Danida’s Evaluation Department<br />
Henrik Hansen, University of Copenhagen<br />
Elliot Stern, Evaluation: the international journal of theory, reserch and practice</p>
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		<title>Innovations in Monitoring and Evaluation ‘as if Politics Mattered’,</title>
		<link>http://mande.co.uk/2011/coming-events/conferences/innovations-in-monitoring-and-evaluation-%e2%80%98as-if-politics-mattered%e2%80%99/</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:17:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rick davies</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Types of Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[complexity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[governance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[institutions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[participation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[policy reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RCT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Theory of Change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[value for money]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mande.co.uk/?p=3657</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[ 17 October, 2011 to 18 October, 2011. ] Date: 17-18 October 2011
Venue: ANU, Canberra, Australia

Concept Note, Chris Roche &#38; Linda Kelly, 4 August 2011
The Developmental Leadership Program (DLP)[1] addresses an important gap in international thinking and policy about the critical role played by leaders, elites and coalitions in the politics of development. At the core of DLP thinking is the proposition that political [...]]]></description>
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<p><span class="eventdate">Date: 17-18 October 2011</span><br />
<span class="eventvenue">Venue: ANU, Canberra, Australia<br />
</span></p>
<p align="center"><strong>Concept Note,<a href="mailto:croche@oxfam.org.au"> Chris Roche</a> &amp; Linda Kelly, 4 August 2011</strong></p>
<p>The <strong><em>Developmental Leadership Program</em></strong> <strong>(DLP)</strong><a title="" href="#_ftn1"><strong><em><strong>[1]</strong></em></strong></a> addresses an important gap in international thinking and policy about the critical role played by leaders, elites and coalitions in the politics of development. At the core of <strong><em>DLP</em></strong> thinking is the proposition that political processes shape developmental outcomes at all levels and in all aspects of society: at national and sub-national levels and in all sectors and issue areas.</p>
<p>Initial findings of the <strong><em>DLP</em></strong> research program confirm that development <em>is</em> a political process and that leadership and agency matter. This is of course not new, but the <strong><em>DLP</em></strong> research provides important insights into how, in particular, leadership, elites and formal and informal coalitions can play a particularly important and under-recognized role in institutional formation (or establishing the ‘rules of the game’), policy reform and development processes<a title="" href="#_ftn2">[2]</a>.</p>
<p>International aid therefore needs to engage effectively with political processes. It needs to be flexible and be able to respond when opportunities open up. It needs to avoid the danger of bolstering harmful political settlements.</p>
<p>Furthermore Monitoring &amp; Evaluation (M&amp;E) mechanisms need to be improved and made compatible with flexible programming and recognize the importance of ‘process’ as well as outcomes. Donors should invest in a range of monitoring and evaluation techniques and approaches which are more aligned with the kinds of non-linear and unpredictable processes which characterise the kinds of political processes which drive positive developmental outcomes. This is important because it can be argued that<strong>,</strong> at best<strong>,</strong> current approaches are simply not appropriate to monitor the kinds of processes <strong><em>DLP</em></strong> research indicates are important; or, at worst, they offer few incentives to international assistance agencies to support the processes that actually lead to developmental outcomes<strong></strong><span id="more-3657"></span></p>
<p>At the same time aid donors are increasingly under pressure to adopt results-based management processes and value for money assessments. There is also growing demand for more rigorous monitoring and evaluation, and greater transparency and public accountability<a title="" href="#_ftn3">[3]</a>.</p>
<p>In the light of these issues <strong><em>DLP</em></strong> will host a seminar on the topic of ‘<strong><em>Monitoring and Evaluation as if Politics Matters’</em></strong>.</p>
<p><strong><em>The purpose of this event is to explore the strengths and weaknesses of current approaches to M&amp;E, and suggest what ‘intelligent mixes’ of different approaches, methods and innovations might be tested by </em></strong><strong><em>DLP</em></strong><strong><em> in order to better track and understand how international assistance can best support </em></strong><strong><em>the emergence and success of developmental leaderships, elites and coalitions</em></strong>.<strong> </strong></p>
<p>In particular the workshop <strong>will</strong> explore what effective mix of different approaches would be required to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Capture changes in agency, leadership, elite formation, and coalitions, i.e. the processes that generate developmental leadership</li>
<li>Evaluate the developmental outcomes (positive and negative) including in particular institutional and policy reform, associated with these changes</li>
<li>Assess the contribution of international agencies and aid to these processes</li>
<li>Address the challenges and opportunities that emerge from the results-based, ‘value for money’, and aid-and-development effectiveness agendas which are prominent concerns in donor thinking and policies at present<strong>.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>The aim of the workshop will be to produce:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>A</strong> limited mixture of ‘testable’ methods, which would be trialled by <strong><em>DLP</em></strong> and its partners over the coming period; and</li>
<li>Some guidance to the international development community about the value of different evaluative approaches for different development processes in the form of a workshop report.</li>
</ul>
<p>It is our belief that no single method will be suitable to measure the effectiveness of this work.  We will need a range and mix of approaches that draws from the best quantitative, qualitative and participatory approaches<strong>,</strong> as well as innovations being generated through social network analysis and social media.</p>
<p>We believe that we therefore need a mix of expertise covering a range of M&amp;E approaches.  The workshop will therefore include experts and researchers with different approaches to Monitoring and Evaluation and political analysis, staff responsible for managing quality and M&amp;E processes in<em> <strong>DLP </strong></em>partners, including AusAID, and development practitioners working on these issues from developing countries. It would involve between 15 and 20 people.</p>
<p>We envisage a maximum of 4/5 speakers with an appropriate balance between the following areas.</p>
<ul>
<li>Theories of Change and Complexity analysis</li>
<li>Gendered M&amp;E</li>
<li>Social Network Analysis and M&amp;E of Governance questions</li>
<li>Quantitative analysis, Experimental and Randomised Control Trials</li>
<li>Citizen Voice and crowd-sourcing options to generate feedback</li>
<li>Specialists in assessing institutional and organizational change</li>
<li>Specialists with expertise in different approaches to analyzing ‘Value for Money’ questions
<ul>
<li>Participatory M&amp;E and Impact Assessment</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Currently the confirmed speakers are:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Patricia Rogers, </strong>Professor in Public Sector Evaluation and leader of the research program in Evidence Based Policy and Practice in the Sustainable Health and Well-Being Research Institute at RMIT, Melbourne (<a href="http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=45hydrj7r8r91">www.rmit.edu.au/rd/sustainablehealthandwellbeing</a>) and author of ‘Purposeful Program Theory’ with Sue Funnell. Patricia is also a key player in the <a href="http://www.scalingimpact.net/files/Impact%20Evaluation%20for%20Development%20-%20Principles%20for%20Action.pdf">Impact Evaluation for Development initiative</a>. ,</li>
<li><strong>Rosalind Eyben</strong>, Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex and member of the Participation, Power and Social Change team (<a href="http://www.ids.ac.uk/index.cfm?objectid=BB000CE0-5056-8171-7B0079D6144E8C25">http://www.ids.ac.uk/index.cfm?objectid=BB000CE0-5056-8171-7B0079D6144E8C25</a>) an ex Chief Social Development Advisor at DFID. Rosalind is the instigator of the Big Push Forward initiative (<a href="http://bigpushforward.wordpress.com/">http://bigpushforward.wordpress.com/</a>),</li>
<li><strong>Irene Guijt </strong>is an international expert in the application of learning-oriented knowledge processes in international development (<a href="http://www.cognitive-edge.com/directoryrecord.php?ID=4621">http://www.cognitive-edge.com/directoryrecord.php?ID=4621</a>).  She has provided research, advisory, and training services on social and organizational learning, in particular being known for her work on innovative thinking on monitoring, evaluation and learning, most recently engaged in experimenting with ‘SenseMaker’ (<a href="http://www.globalgiving.org/stories/">http://www.globalgiving.org/stories/</a>))
<ul>
<li><strong>Shawn Powers,  </strong>Policy Manager at the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at MIT a research network specializing in randomized evaluations of social programs (<a href="http://www.povertyactionlab.org/powers">http://www.povertyactionlab.org/powers</a>)</li>
<li><strong>Dr. </strong><a href="http://www.die-gdi.de/CMS-Homepage/openwebcms3_e.nsf/%28ynDK_contentByKey%29/MSIN-7YQJTY?OpenDocument&amp;nav=active:Staff%5CResearch%20Staff;expand:Staff%5CResearch%20Staff"><strong>Maria Melody Garcia</strong></a> is a researcher at the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) working on impact evaluation . She is the author of Micro-Methods in Evaluating Governance Interventions, a recent overview of  impact evaluation methodologies currently used in the field of governance. focusing specifically on experimental and quasi-experimental designs see <a href="http://www.bmz.de/en/zentrales_downloadarchiv/erfolg/BMZ_WP_Micro.pdf">http://www.bmz.de/en/zentrales_downloadarchiv/erfolg/BMZ_WP_Micro.pdf</a></li>
<li><strong>Esme Gaussen</strong>, is an independent monitoring, evaluation and value for money specialist currently based in South Africa.  She has previously worked for the UK National Audit Office on value for money assessments of DFID-supported programmes, and developed M+E tools for the NAO&#8217;s International Technical Cooperation Programme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The format of the workshop will involve an introduction to <strong><em>DLP’s</em></strong> research and findings by Adrian Leftwich, and a short input on the challenges raised by <strong><em>DLP’s</em></strong> partners in the first M&amp;E workshop (by Chris Roche or Linda Kelly). We are then proposing having pairs of experts responding to these challenges suggesting how they might be addressed by<strong><em> </em></strong><strong><em>DLP</em></strong>, from different perspectives. Speakers would be asked to prepare presnetations in advance. This would be interspersed with Questions and Answers and discussion.</p>
<p>This would lead on to more workshop type sessions exploring testable approaches and methods. A final session might include sharing these findings with a broader range of development practitioners and experts in Canberra.</p>
<p>We envisage a workshop report, that will be part of the <strong><em>DLP</em></strong><strong> </strong>research papers series, outlining an overall approach for the M&amp;E of ‘working politically’ as described by <strong><em>DLP</em></strong>.</p>
<p><strong><em><a href="mailto:croche@oxfam.org.au">Chris Roche</a> &amp; Linda Kelly on behalf of the Developmental Leadership Program, 31 August 2011 </em></strong>(they are interested to hear about any research, experience or ideas that may be relevant to the topic)<em></em><strong><em><br />
</em></strong></p>
<div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div>
<p><a title="" href="#_ftnref1">[1]</a> See <a href="http://www.dlprog.org/"><strong>www.dlprog.org</strong></a></p>
</div>
<div>
<p><a title="" href="#_ftnref2">[2]</a><strong> </strong>See <a href="http://www.dlprog.org/ftp/download/Public%20Folder/Politics,%20Leadership%20and%20Coalitions%20in%20Development%20-%20Findings,%20insights%20and%20guidance.pdf"><strong>Adrian Leftwich &amp; Chris Wheeler (2011) &#8220;Politics, Leadership and Coalitions in Development&#8221; A Research and Policy Workshop Report, </strong>a</a>nd annex 1 of this note</p>
</div>
<div>
<p><a title="" href="#_ftnref3">[3]</a> See the recent <a href="http://www.aidreview.gov.au/report/index.html"><strong>Aid review conducted in Australia and the Government response</strong></a></p>
</div>
</div>
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		<title>The Oslo Governance Forum &#8211; Governance Assessments for Social Accountability</title>
		<link>http://mande.co.uk/2011/coming-events/conferences/the-oslo-governance-forum-governance-assessments-for-social-accountability/</link>
		<comments>http://mande.co.uk/2011/coming-events/conferences/the-oslo-governance-forum-governance-assessments-for-social-accountability/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:15:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rick davies</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Types of Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[governance assessments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social accountability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNDP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mande.co.uk/?p=3649</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[ 3 October, 2011 to 5 October, 2011. ] &#160;

Date: 3-5 October 2011
Venue: Oslo, Norway 

ABOUT THE OSLO GOVERNANCE FORUM

The Oslo Governance Forum (OGF) is an initiative of the Oslo Governance Centre and the Democratic Governance Group of UNDP. The Forum will facilitate exchange of innovative experiences, knowledge and policy options among international development practitioners, academic institutions, government representatives and civil society from the global [...]]]></description>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span class="eventdate">Date: 3-5 October 2011</span><br />
<span class="eventvenue">Venue: Oslo, Norway</span><a href="http://www.oslogovernanceforum.org/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=169:about-oslo-governance-forum&amp;catid=57:frontpage&amp;Itemid=223"> </a></p>
<p>ABOUT THE OSLO GOVERNANCE FORUM</p>
<p>The Oslo Governance Forum (OGF) is an initiative of the Oslo Governance Centre and the Democratic Governance Group of UNDP. The Forum will facilitate exchange of innovative experiences, knowledge and policy options among international development practitioners, academic institutions, government representatives and civil society from the global south.</p>
<p>The Oslo Governance Forum will take place from the 3-5 October 2011. The overarching focus is on governance assessments and their current and potential contribution to improving social accountability within developing countries. For the purposes of the OGF, social accountability has a wide meaning and relates to the mechanisms and instruments that are used by communities, groups and ordinary people to make governments and their agents, answerable and responsive in terms of the commitments that they have made. Governance assessments are an increasingly important tool for monitoring whether governments are failing or succeeding in terms of their commitments in legislation, government policies and international law.</p>
<p>To date, much of the focus of the development community on governance assessments, has been on the &#8220;supply side&#8221;, that is, improving the methodological aspects of an assessment and getting the right indicators. The OGF will focus on the &#8220;demand side&#8221;, examining, discussing and sharing experiences on how governance assessments are used by stakeholders as a basis for dialogue on governance deficits, as an instrument to monitor performance and as an input for revising and correcting policies. One of the key elements of democratic governance and accountability is empowerment of the people and the fostering of demand- and people driven accountability as opposed to accountability to external actors like donors.</p>
<p>The world is changing rapidly and never before has democratic governance and accountability been so visibly important on the global stage. The Arab Spring revolutions have shown that governments must take people’s calls for accountability and their rights to be governed democratically more seriously. These events have also added to the growing number of case studies that attest to the potential of social media and related technologies for mobilizing people for change.&#8221;</p>
<p>See the<a href="http://www.oslogovernanceforum.org/"> Forum home page</a> for more information as well as the <a href="http://www.oslogovernanceforum.org/images/stories/PDFs/concept_note_1207.pdf">Concept Note for the Forum</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>2012 European Evaluation Society Conference in Helsinki</title>
		<link>http://mande.co.uk/2011/coming-events/conferences/2012-european-evaluation-society-conference-in-helsinki/</link>
		<comments>http://mande.co.uk/2011/coming-events/conferences/2012-european-evaluation-society-conference-in-helsinki/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:47:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rick davies</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Types of Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[accountability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Information / Communication Technology (ICT)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[network]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social networks]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mande.co.uk/?p=3625</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[ 3 October, 2012 to 5 October, 2012. ] Date: OCTOBER 1-5, 2012
Venue: HELSINKI, Finland

Conference website
EVALUATION IN THE NETWORKED SOCIETY: NEW CONCEPTS, NEW CHALLENGES, NEW SOLUTIONS
The Tenth Biennial Conference of the European Evaluation Society will be the international evaluation event of the year. It will be held in Helsinki, Finland during 3-5 October 2012 (pre-conference workshops 1- 2 October).

Evaluators are living in times of [...]]]></description>
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<p><span class="eventdate">Date: OCTOBER 1-5, 2012</span><br />
<span class="eventvenue">Venue: HELSINKI, Finland</span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.europeanevaluation.org/conferences/ees-conferences-and-events/upcoming1/10th-ees-biennial-conference.htm">Conference website</a></p>
<h3>EVALUATION IN THE NETWORKED SOCIETY: NEW CONCEPTS, NEW CHALLENGES, NEW SOLUTIONS</h3>
<p>The Tenth Biennial Conference of the European Evaluation Society will be the international evaluation event of the year. It will be held in Helsinki, Finland during 3-5 October 2012 (pre-conference workshops 1- 2 October).</p>
<p>Evaluators are living in times of unprecedented challenge and opportunity. The networked information environment is inducing fundamental changes in culture, politics and society. Whereas the industrial society was reliant on centralised, hierarchical, high cost information systems, the networked society is characterised by decentralised, voluntary and cheap information exchange.</p>
<p>The advent of social networking without borders will have fundamental implications for evaluation agendas and methods. First, it will redefine the value and legitimacy of evaluation in global social accountability networks and accelerate the internationalisation of evaluation. Second, evaluation cultures, structures and processes will have to deal  with the limitless quantity, speed and accessibility of information generated by new technologies, e.g. drawing useful meaning from huge data bases, assessing the validity of an exploding number of rating systems, league tables, etc. in ways consistent with democratic values of freedom of expression and protection of privacy.</p>
<p>The new information technologies offer new ways of making authority responsible and accountable as well as bringing real time citizen involvement and reliable information to bear on public policy making. What are the implications of an information economy that allows instant connectivity to thousands of program beneficiaries suddenly able to make their voices heard? Will the spread of mobile telephony to the weakest and most vulnerable members of society and the rising power of social networks act as evaluative and recuperative mechanisms or will they merely aggravate social instability? What are the risks of network capture by single or special interest groups and cooptation of evaluation?</p>
<p>The rise of the evaluation discipline is inextricably linked to the values central to any democratic society. How will these values be protected in a context where weak links and increasing inequalities have created new fissures in society? How will evaluation independence be protected against the pressures of vested interests intent on retaining control over the commanding heights of the society?</p>
<p>To help explore these and other issues relevant to the prospects of evaluation in Europe and beyond the Conference will stimulate evaluators to share ideas, insights and opinions about a wide range of topics that will throw light on the future roles of evaluation in the networked society. The Conference will help draw evaluation lessons learnt in distinct sectors and regions of the world. It will also examine the potential of alternative and mixed evaluation methods in diverse contexts and probe the challenges of assessing public interest in complex adaptive systems and networks.</p>
<p>To these ends the Conference will offer participants a wide choice of vehicles for the transmission of evaluation experience and knowledge: keynote speeches, paper presentations, panel debates, posters, etc.  As in past years the EES Conference will aim at a pluralistic agenda that respects the legitimacy of different standpoints, illuminates diverse perspectives and promotes principled debate. The Conference will also provide an opportunity for evaluation networks to interact and improve the coherence of their activities.</p>
<p>We look forward to welcoming you in Helsinki. It is one of the world leaders in modern design and it provides Europe with a world class high tech platform. It also boasts a 450 year history and lays claim to being the warmest, friendliest, most “laid back” city of Northern Europe. Its nearby archipelago of islands offers an ideal environment for sea cruises and its neighboring old growth forests provide an idyllic setting for restful nature walks. We promise you an enjoyable as well as a professionally rewarding time!!</p>
<p>Ian Davies, <em>President, European Evaluation Society</em><br />
Maria Bustelo, <em>Vice President and President Elect, European Evaluation Society</em></p>
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		<title>Is Australian Aid Fair Dinkum? A Forum On The Independent Review Of Aid Effectiveness</title>
		<link>http://mande.co.uk/2011/coming-events/is-australian-aid-fair-dinkum-a-forum-on-the-independent-review-of-aid-effectiveness/</link>
		<comments>http://mande.co.uk/2011/coming-events/is-australian-aid-fair-dinkum-a-forum-on-the-independent-review-of-aid-effectiveness/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:44:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>rick davies</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Debate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Types of Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[aid effectiveness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AusAID]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[[ 13 September, 2011; ] Venue: Old Parliament House, 18 King George Tce, Parkes 8222, Canberra
Date: Tuesday, 13 September 2011 6:00 PM

Summary


"In a world where we have achieved so much, from quantum leaps in medical research to the development of sophisticated technologies, it seems implausible that there are more hungry people in the world today than the populations of the [...]]]></description>
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<p><span class="eventvenue">Venue: Old Parliament House, 18 King George Tce, Parkes 8222, Canberra</span><br />
<span class="eventdate">Date: Tuesday, 13 September 2011 6:00 PM</span></p>
<p>Summary</p>
<div>
<p>&#8220;In a world where we have achieved so much, from quantum leaps in medical research to the development of sophisticated technologies, it seems implausible that there are more hungry people in the world today than the populations of the United States, Canada and the European Union combined.</p>
<p>But the picture isn&#8217;t all bleak. A recent report released by the United Nations reveals that we have made some significant progress in our bid to alleviate poverty around the world, and the Independant Review of Aid Effectiveness commissioned by the Australian Government has made some assessments and recommendations that could help guide progress in the future.</p>
<p>However, when it comes to the complex issue of poverty alleviation, there are no simple answers.</p>
<p>What are some of the challenges faced when it comes to ensuring that we are taking the smartest and most efficient approach to tackling poverty? What are the timeframes within which we can realistically expect change to happen? And are we doing enough to address structural and behavioural issues that perpetuate gender inequality and other forms of exploitation that continue the vicious cycle of poverty.</p>
<p>How much of a difference are we actually making?&#8221;</p>
<p>Speakers include:</p>
<ul>
<li>James Batley &#8211; Deputy Director-General, Asia Pacific and Program Enabling Group, AusAID</li>
<li>Stephen Howes &#8211; Director, Development Policy Centre, ANU and member of Independent Aid Effectiveness Review panel</li>
<li>Dr Julia Newton-Howes &#8211; Chief Executive, CARE AustraliaNikunj Soni &#8211; Board Chair, Pacific Institute of Public Policy, Vanuatu</li>
</ul>
<p>Registration and other information<a href="http://www.onejustworld.com.au/Upcoming-Forums/Is-Australian-Aid-Fair-Dinkum--A-report-on-the-Ind.aspx" class="broken_link"> here</a></p>
</div>
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