Socially Transformative Evaluation: Challenges of Evaluation Practice in India (original) (raw)

Abstract

This paper centres around our own learning on methodology and process as practitioners of evaluation in India. We see ourselves as part of an evaluation movement in India who believe that evaluation is an inclusive and transformative tool for social change and empowerment. It’s an exercise that must be is based on the principles of social equity and human rights. Our evaluation tries to create an ownership towards developing a relation between the programme and the stakeholders. The kind of evaluation that we practice, facilitates a dialogue between the evaluators, implementers and the community. Here the role of the evaluator is more of a mediator between the stakeholders. However, these kinds of evaluations cannot quantify the impact of a programme in complete binaries. On the other hand, we feel the commissioners of evaluations are more interested in quantitative figures rather than an enhancement of the implement process. The present paper will cite examples and challenging experiences from our three recent evaluations: evaluation of a voice based messaging service for the rural agriculturists in India; evaluation of an empowerment programme for adolescent girls from marginalised communities and disadvantaged regions; and finally evaluation of a vocational training programme for girls and women from economically disadvantaged communities. The examples highlight the lessons learnt in bringing the transformative qualities of evaluation at the forefront. The paper concludes with the realization that issues of social and economic inequities including gender should be there in the evaluation agenda irrespective of evaluation methodology.

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