A basic guide to evaluation for development workers: Appendix 2 Developing an evaluation plan

A basic guide to evaluation for development workers

		Acknowledgements
		1 Introduction
		2 Putting evaluation in context
		3 Traditional and alternative models of evaluation
		4 The purpose and use of evaluation
		5 Putting evaluation into practice
		6 Some practical considerations when planning an evaluation
		7 Using evaluation: feedback and follow-up
		Appendix 1 Checklist of questions
		Appendix 2 Developing an evaluation plan
		Appendix 3 Tasks for the team leader
		Appendix 4 Suggestions for content of an evaluation report
		Appendix 5 Advantages and disadvantages of external and internal evaluators
		References and further reading
		Oxfam Books

Appendix 2 Developing an evaluation plan

Managing an evaluation

(This section and the following one are based on material contained in Policy and Procedure Manual, Draft, April 1990, Appendix D, produced by UNICEF Evaluation Office, New York.)

1 Planning

Involve key stakeholders in discussion on evaluation purpose(s).

Decide on key evaluation questions.

Select main approach and methods based on key questions.

Prepare an overall plan.

Prepare TOR/ ensure necessary people involved in feeding into them.

Recruit evaluation team as appropriate.

Select participants in team.

Ensure key material is collected for background and briefing of team.

Ensure logistics are in place, and in particular that team will have reasonable conditions for meeting and writing.

2 Implementation

Ensure team have sufficient briefing, parameters of organisation, are clear what is being asked of them. Ensure responsibility for final product is understood. Ensure evaluation team know who key link people are. Supervise exercise and provide on-going support as necessary. Attend meeting for preliminary discussion of findings and recommendations.

Review draft report and give comments to team. Schedule debriefing session with team and sponsors (as appropriate). Promote evaluation of evaluation by different parties.

3 Follow up

Meet with project to discuss implementation. Discuss and agree wider distribution of report of evaluation, and any adaptations necessary. Promote wider dissemination of findings and learning. Encourage use of results in future programming (for example promote follow up meeting 6 and 12 months later to see what changes have been made following the exercise—why/why not).