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.
- 139 results found
- X Discussion paper
Implementing the vision: addressing challenges to results-focused management and budgeting
Burt Perrin's 2002 report to the OECD outlines common challenges in performance measurement and results-based management, and identifies potential solutions to these.2013 Spring report of the Auditor General of Canada: Chapter 1—Status report on evaluating the effectiveness of programs
This report presents the results of a performance audit conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada.Facilitating management learning: Developing critical reflection through reflective tools
Although focused on viewing critical reflection through the scope of management learning, this article discusses a range of critical reflection tools that have been drawn from other professional areas, such as storytelling, metaphors,The network diagram - bringing order to project work flows
All links on this page lead to archived resourcesRealistic evaluation bloodlines
This article, written by Ray Pawson and Nick Tilley analyses six different social science inquiries from around the globe that use a variety of methods and strategies in order to draw conclusions about realistic evaluations.The value iceberg: weighing the benefits of advocacy and campaigning
BetterEvaluation Discussion Paper 1 is a thought piece written by Rhonda Schlangen and Jim Coe (independent consultants), members of the BetterEvaluation Community, and is intended to promote discussion.What counts as good evidence?
This paper, written by Sandra Nutley, Alison Powell and Huw Davies for the Alliance for Useful Evidence, discusses the risks of using a hierarchy of evidence and suggests an alternative in which more complex matrix approaches for identifyinHow Feedback Loops Can Improve Aid (and Maybe Governance)
This paper, written by Dennis Whittle for the Center for Global Development, outlines a set of principles that can be used to support the development of feedback loops for international development prograClosing the citizen feedback loop
This article, written by Dennis Whittle and David Bonbright for Keystone Accountability, argues that collecting and responding to feedback is essential as it is not only the right thing to do but it is also the smart thing to do.Using case studies to explore the external validity of ‘complex’ development interventions
Michael Woolcock's paper addresses the fact that rising standards required for assessing the impact of development projects have not been met with equally rigorous procedures for guiding decisions about external validity - "whether and howImpact assessment of financial market development through the lens of complexity theory
This example of complexity theory from FSD Kenya focuses on evaluating the impact of two financial programs implemented by the organisation: the development of a credit information-sharing system and the implementation of a savings group.Realist impact evaluation: An introduction
Realist impact evaluation is an approach to impact evaluation that emphasises the importance of context for programme outcomes.Diffusion of innovations in service organizations: Systematic review and recommendations
This article summarizes an extensive literature review addressing the question, How can we spread and sustain innovations in health service delivery and organization?Knowledge management and organizational learning
This article, by William R.Building the evidence base for post project evaluation: Case study review and evaluability checklists
This report to the Faster Forward Fund by Laurie Zivetz and Jindra Cekan of Valuing Voices compares findings from eight end-of-project and subsequent post project evaluations.Learning to Make All Voices Count - Leveraging Complexity-Aware MEL to Pursue Change in Complex Systems
Evidence base journal
ANZSOG's peer-reviewed journal, Evidence Base, publishes reviews of the evidence informing decision-making in specific policy areas.Making rigorous causal claims in a real-life context: Has research contributed to sustainable forest management?
This article presents an example of a rigorous non-counterfactual causal analysis that describes how different evidence and methods were used together for causal inference without a control group or comparison group.Embedding evaluation in national plans and policies to foster transformative development
This IIED Briefing Paper argues that meaningful evaluation of progress towards achieving sustainable development extends beyond supporting voluntary national reviews, and that for the full potential of evaluation to be realised, evaluationGender equality and big data: Making gender data visible
The report from UN Women, with support from UN Global Pulse, outlines the value of big data for monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in relation to women.Pathways to advance professionalisation within the context of the AES
This report by Greet Peersman and Patricia Rogers for the Australasian Evaluation Society (AES) identifies four potential pathways towards professionalisation within the context of the AES. These pathways arePartner-led evaluation for policy research programmes: A thought piece on the KNOWFOR programme evaluation
This paper discusses the strengths, challenges and appropriateness of a partner-led evaluation approach, drawing on the experience of the UK Government Department for International Development (DFID)-funded International Forestry KnowledgeQuIP and the Yin/Yang of Quant and Qual: How to navigate QuIP visualisations
This discussion paper reviews how quantitative and qualitative processes are utilised in analysis and presentation of dataFrom monitoring goals to systems-informed evaluation: Insights from SDG14
This briefing paper from IIED argues that if the world is going to make significant progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, development actors will need to think and work in new ways, including in evaluaOutcome monitoring and learning in large multi-stakeholder research programmes: lessons from the PRISE consortium
This discussion paper outlines the key lessons to emerge from designing and applying an outcome monitoring system to the Pathways to Resilience in Semi-arid Economies (PRISE) project.On the Right Track? A brief review of monitoring and evaluation in the humanitarian sector.
In this review, Action Against Hunger (ACF) looks at responses from 15 agencies on their intentions for evaluation and the data that they are collecting.What methods may be used in impact evaluations of humanitarian assistance?
This 3ie working paper examines the extent to which impact evaluation methods can provide evidence to help improve the effectiveness and efficiency in humanitarian action.Measuring results and impact in the age of big data
This paper explores the nexus of data science and evaluation, probing the issues and challenges of incorporating big data into evaluation practice. This resource and the following information was contributed by Alice Macfarlan.How does the commissioning process hinder the uptake of complexity-appropriate evaluation?
Drawing on interviews with 19 UK evaluation commissioners and contractors, this paper investigates the role of evaluation commissioning in hindering the take-up of complexity-appropriate evaluation methods and explores ways of improving thiConsiderations for using data responsibly at USAID
The aim of this resource is to provide a framework for identifying and understanding risks associated with the collection and use of data.The hidden life of theories of change
One common criticism of Theory of Change is that it is often used as a framework that fixes agreements rather than as a living, guiding tool that helps reflection and adaptation.What is impact?
This discussion paper discusses the meaning of 'impact', moving beyond methodological debates to present different perspectives and dimensions that can affect how impact could be framed and evaluated.