Evaluation & follow-up

Evaluation of any action you choose should be an ongoing function parallel to the events and development as they happen. This note offers some simple guidance on the specific evaluation tasks you will face. They are described in stages, with particular emphasis on the final stages and the vision for the future.

For our purposes, evaluation and follow-up imply two levels of assessment: (1) evaluation the action and (2) following the situation after the action concludes. The former is internal in nature and helps your organization, community or network become a learning institution by building on the lessons (successes, near-successes, failures and unanticipated results) of your efforts. The latter enables you, your organization, community or network to test the outcome to ascertain whether of not it has tangible benefits for those persons, communities, populations and peoples affected and targeted in your action. Ultimately, the follow-up process should lead you to the necessary conclusion as to what, if anything, to do next.