Monitoring and Evaluation NEWS
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
14 pages. Available as pdf. Bureau for Policy, Planning, and Learning , January 19th, 2011
Contents: 1. Context; 2. Purposes of Evaluation; 3. Basic Organizational Roles and Responsibilities; 4. Evaluation Practices; 5. Evaluation Requirements; 6. Conclusion. Annex: Criteria to Ensure the Quality of the Evaluation Report
“In this essay, Andrew Natsios describes what he sees as the most disruptive obstacles to development work in agencies such as USAID: layers and layers of bureaucracy. He gives a first-hand account of how this “counter-bureaucracy” disfigures USAID’s development practice and even compromises U.S. national security objectives. Most of all, he argues, the counter-bureaucracy’s emphasis on easy measurement is at odds with the fact that transformational programs are often the least measurable and involve elements of risk and uncertainty.
To overcome counter-bureaucracy barriers, Natsios suggests implementing a new measurement system, reducing the layers of oversight and regulation, and aligning programmatic goals with organizational incentives. Unless policymakers address the issue, he says, U.S. aid programs will be unable to implement serious development programs while complying with the demands of Washington.”
Revised 07-13-2010
See also “BEYOND SUCCESS STORIES: MONITORING & EVALUATION FOR FOREIGN ASSISTANCE RESULTS Posted on 8 June, 2009