Description of experience

NGOs and their programs should be periodically assessed, and assessed well, simply because this can help them improve their services and how they contribute to social development. Evaluations can help ensure that organizations remain efficient and relevant by:

· assisting the organizations in articulating their purpose, intent, and social change theory;

· generating information on relevant internal and external conditions and on performance, especially on overall impact and direction;

· providing a basis for rationalizing different programs, projects and activities;

· summing-up experiences to be used to develop effective or replicable approaches and strategies;

· enabling informed decision-making on the proper allocation of scarce resources;

· being part of an overall learning process for the organization, especially by identifying their gains and limitations, strengths and weaknesses; and

· developing commitment and volunteerism during the course of self-assessment in terms of its reason for being.

Additionally, evaluations can also:

· serve as inputs/data/analysis to help FAs decide on what projects and programs to assist;

· serve as a venue to showcase successful projects; and

· overall, can contribute to bridging the gap between foreign FAs and their Philippine partners.

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