Evidence-based Evaluation of Development Cooperation: Possible? Feasible? Desirable?

It is increasingly recognised that evidence-based evaluations are important tools in addressing the lack of information on impacts of development cooperation activities, However, as shown in this study, very few evaluations are evidence-based. A number of probable explanations have been found in the terms of reference for the evaluations. The most important are that too many questions are to be answered at the same time, that evaluations are often planned after the activities have been implemented and that the terms of reference often provide unclear definitions of what constitutes a result A number of measures ought to be taken if evidence-based evaluations are to increase. First, it is necessary that the types of evaluation are distinguished. It is only questions about effectiveness and impact that can be addressed through experimental methods, Second, evaluations need to be part of the overall planning phase of the interventions. Finally, evaluations have to focus only on either one particular result or on a very small number of results. Adapted from the source document.