Power Of In Between M&E Session
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Identifying outcomes and impact- monitoring and evaluation of research brokering and intermediation Presentation by Anna Downie , Strategic Learning Initiative, IDS, UK at the Locating the Power of the In-between conference
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- 1. Evaluating research brokers and intermediaries What is
success? And how do we measure it? Anna Downie Information
Department, Institute of Development Studies, UK Power of
In-Between Conference, South Africa (July 2008)
- 2. Evaluation: why?
- Research brokers and intermediaries are more than just a
by-product of research
- Accountability: Like all programmes which receive aid money we
need to show what difference we make
- Most importantly, to learn and improve
- 3. Introductions What challenges do you face in evaluation in
this area?
- 4. Research communication evaluation is challenging
- Information, communication, knowledge, learning, change are all
difficult concepts to understand and evaluate
- Decision making or policy making are complex processes to
disentangle
- Research communications evaluation: single pieces of research,
or a specific policy process
- Although there is little consensus on what research use refers
to exactly, there seems to be broad agreement on the fact that
research evidence rarely has a direct impact on decision making
(Schryer-Roy 2005)
- 5. But evaluating research brokers and intermediaries is even
more challenging!
- Intermediaries are involved with variety of research in
multiple processes
- Not advocating for a single piece of research or a single
process
- Trying to change use of information and the policy
environment?
- 6. Challenges
- Different drivers for intermediaries so different concepts of
outcomes
- Often set up from supply side; but we want to evaluate whether
it meets a need/demand
- We address multiple problems, therefore we have multiple
outcomes
- 7. IDS Knowledge Services external evaluation Key evaluation
recommendations
- Outcomes: Make clear what use of information means
- Pathways: Make explicit our theory of change
- Targeting: Identify more specific groups of target users
- Methods: Dont just focus on collecting success stories
- 8. What is success?
- For different stakeholders:
-
- What outcomes are we looking for? Are they measurable?
-
- What are indicators of success?
- 9. Knowledge dissemination Knowledge building Sharing ideas To
provide wider access to the knowledge base of resources relevant to
tackling poverty and injustice Information access The results of
research is more widely used Increased access to and engagement
with research findings Supporting and enabling evidence based pro
poor policy and practice To seek solutions to knowledge and
communications challenges Enhance the communication and use of
evidence-based development research Awareness and improved
understanding among policymakers Improved links and relationships
between researchers, practitioners and policy makers Bridge the gap
between ideas and policy Bridging the gaps between research, policy
and practice with accessible and diverse information Changing
communication patterns Increased debate about research
findings
- 10. What do we mean by use of research ? Information Knowledge
Learning Action / Decisions Awareness Access Development
outcomes?
- 11. How is research used?
- To change what people do (behaviours, policies)
- To change how people think (different debates, different
voices)
- To change how people feel
- 12.
- 13. Mapping out pathways
- Can help you prioritise and plan
- Makes explicit your assumptions and values
- Allows you to compare your ideal with reality and helps you to
evaluate
- Needs to be simple enough for everyone to understand, but
meaningful enough to be able to test it
- 14. Mapping out pathways
- Logframes (logical frameworks)
- 15. Outputs Access and debate Understanding and influence
Action Goal Vision The things which IDS Knowledge Services will
produce
- Desire and capacity to use information
- Access to relevant, diverse and credible information
- Sharing, discussion and debate
- An enabling environment for intermediaries
- More understanding of poverty and injustice
- Increased capacity to build the understanding of others
- Increased capacity to influence the behaviours and actions of
others
- Changing or supporting a development intervention
- Framings of issues and new agendas
- Spaces to negotiate power relations
- Wider awareness of development issues and public debate
- Information contributes to more enabling development processes
and interventions which are poor-poor, inclusive and equitable
- A world in which poverty does not exist, social justice
prevails and the voices of all the people are heard in national and
international institutions
- 16. Identifying target groups and building relationships with
stakeholders
- Who are our target groups?
-
- Policy makers and practitioners? (who are they?!)
-
- Or can we be more specific?
- Developing relationships with stakeholders
-
- Requires energy and commitment
- 17. A few evaluation methods
- Interviews and case studies
- Research into information and communication
- Advisory groups and editorial panels
- Counterfactuals (comparison with non-users)
- Most significant change approach
- 18. What evaluation methods do you use? What do you find easy
to measure/evaluate? What do you find harder to measure/evaluate?
What does success mean to you?
- 19. Final thoughts
- Building relationships with users
- Evaluation is challenging- but worth it!
- Aim to learn and improve: Be questioning, inquisitive and
reflective
- 20. Thanks!