The BetterEvaluation Resource Library contains hundreds of curated and co-created resources related to managing, conducting, using, and strengthening capacity for evaluation.
You can use the search field and filtering on this page to find resources that you are interested in or you can browse our extensive list. An alternative way to find resources best suited to your needs is to explore the Rainbow Framework, where you can find resources relating to evaluation methods, approaches and tasks.
5 differences between complexity & systems thinking
This blog post by Sonja Blignaut for More Beyond discusses some of the clear distinctions between complexity thinking and systems thinking.Lessons learned
This overview by Michael Quinn Patton and Ricardo A. Millett provides a definition and discussion of how lessons learned can be derived and from what sources.Democratic governance and evaluation
This paper, presented by Anders Hanberger at the Sixth EES (European Evaluation Society) Conference in Berlin, Germany (2004) argues that governance, democracy and evaluation impact each in different ways.What is democratic evaluation?
This article from Robert Picciotto provides an overview of democratic evaluation, particularly with reference to its use in the European Union context.Principles focused evaluation webinar
This webinar (recorded January 23, 2018) features an interview with Michael Quinn Patton and discusses his latest book - Principles-Focused Evaluation: The GUIDE - and the principles-focused evaluation (P-FE) approach, exploring its relevanSystems thinking: A way to maximise program effectiveness
A short animated video highlighting how systems thinking can be used in program evaluation to maximize program effectiveness, produced by Chris Lovato, Beverly Parsons, and Kylie Hutchinson.Enhancing evaluation use: Insights from internal evaluation units
This book, co-edited by Marlène Läubli Loud and John Mayne, offers invaluable insights from real evaluators who share strategies they have adopted through their own experiences in evaluation.Introduction to collaborating, learning and adapting (CLA) in the program cycle
This free, one-hour online course by USAID gives an introduction to the Collaboration, Learning, Adapting (CLA) approach.Question and questionnaire design
This chapter Jon A. Krosnick and Stanley Presser presents a number of recommendations about survey design based on conventional wisdom and a review of the methodological literature.Why do we avoid evaluation?
This is a 20-minute presentation on evaluation use developed by Alexey Kuzmin (Process Consulting Company, Moscow, Russia) in collaboration with the ILO International Training Centre (ILO ITC, Turin, Italy).Successful public policy: Lessons from Australia and New Zealand
This book is a collection of 20 examples of successful public policies in Australia and New Zealand. It aims to reset the agenda for teaching, research and dialogue on public policy performance.Sketcho frenzy: The basics of visual note-taking
This is a short (3-minute) video by Claudine Delfin about the benefits of visual note-taking. It's also a good example of a video that has been created from a visual note-taking process.Critical System Heuristics : a very, very short introduction
This "very, very short" summary on the CSL4D blog introduces CSH as being useful to "help determine the validity of an actionable system or a project design as a basis for action by analysing four boundary issues: motivation, control, knowlIDEAS book launch: Randomized control trials in the field of development, a critical perspective [Webinar]
This webinar to launch the book Randomized Control Trials in the Field of Development: A Critical Perspective brings together five representatives of the book's editors and authors for a discussion around some of the key ideas andWebinar recording: When the ‘field’ is online – qualitative data collection
This NVIVO webinar explores ways that researchers can adapt their research approach using online data collection when face to face fieldwork isn’t possible.The Learning Lab - UNICEF Malawi (C4D)
The UNICEF C4D team in Malawi have started an annual Learning Lab initiative to build capacity in new thinking on C4D and social and behaviour change communication, including some focus on RM&E of C4D.Democratic evaluation and democracy: exploring the reality
Democratic evaluation brings a way of thinking about evaluation’s role in society and in particular, its role in strengthening social justice.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – program evaluation resources
The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) website contains a series of resources for planning an evaluation (including the development of an evaluation brief, KEQs, planning documents, and stakeholder engagement), data collecGlobal innovations in measurement and evaluation
This report by NPC highlights their research into the latest developments in theory and practice in measurement and evaluation. The authors found that new thinking, techniques, and technology are influencing and improving practice.A list of M&E email lists
This list, on Rick Davies' Monitoring and Evaluation NEWS site, brings together a suite of M&E email lists from around the world.Rethinking impact evaluation for development - IDS special issue
This special edition of the IDS Bulletin presents contributions from the event 'Impact Innovation and Learning: Towards a Research and Practice Agenda for the Future', organised by IDS in March 2013.Children and participation: Research, monitoring and evaluation with children and young people
This resource provides an overview of good practice when involving children in research and evaluation, including a rationale for doing this, ethical issues to address and possible tools to use.Advancing evaluation practices in philanthropy
This series of papers about evaluation practices in philanthropy was published as a sponsored supplement of the Stanford Social Innovation Review for the Aspen Institute Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation.Mentoring evaluators: what's happening in Canada
This poster presentation from the American Evaluation Association Conference 2011 analyses the research conducted in Canada in order to develop a nationwide mentoring program for evaluators.Geospatial analysis in evaluation
This blog from the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) highlights the role of geospatial data in understanding change in phenomena, and answering questions of relevance and effectiveness of development interventions.Learning from data innovation
This episode from the IEG podcast 'What have we learned' features Brenda Barbour and Jos Vaessen discussing the opportunities and challenges of using innovative technologies with evaluation data.Planting the seeds for high-quality program evaluation in public health
This free e-text book, created as a collaboration between the evaluation staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Asthma Control Program and Fierro Consulting Inc., provides a practical introduction to program evalSetting new standards for better MEL: Lessons for grantees & funders
This brief shares insights from the efforts of The Economic Justice Program (EJP) of the Open Society Foundations' Strategy & Impact Unit to develop a focused, principles‑driven approach to monitoring and evaluation.Close-out note for the Enhancing Impact for Economic Justice portfolio
This resource is a portfolio close-out note that was originally developed for colleagues internally at OSF: It provides an overview of the portfolio (its aims, structure, and scope) along with reflections on key achievements and lessons leaEvaluative thinking
This set of webpages and video from the Department of Education in New South Wales, Australia, provides background information on evaluative thinking and its use.The core of evaluation: Evaluative thinking
This AEA365 blog by Tom Grayson provides a list of quotes from notable evaluation colleagues about the importance of evaluative thinking.Issues in assessing the policy influence of research
This paper presents a methodology for assessing the influence of research on public policy.