Evaluation in Small Development Non-Profits: Deadends, Victories, and Alternative Routes

Evaluation is often underused and non-used in small development non-profit organizations, despite its perceived benefits. This book explores the paradox of evaluation in this context and examines the utility, meaningfulness, and purpose of evaluation from small non-profit perspectives. It presents evaluative alternatives that reconceptualize evaluation as part of the active process of development and highlights a historical preoccupation with improving evaluation without assessing its inherent worth.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 215 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Research on evaluation indicates that low utilization and non-use of evaluation are prevalent, despite the widespread recognition of its benefits and worth. The value of evaluation is closely linked to its practical application, creating a paradoxical situation where evaluation is both esteemed and underutilized. This book delves into this paradox in the under-researched context of small development non-profit organizations, which face unique resource constraints and hold 'bottom-up community development values' that complicate their ability to align with top-down directives for evaluation. The book explores the utility, meaningfulness, and purpose of evaluation from the perspectives of small non-profit organizations, examining whether evaluation holds value for these organizations. Furthermore, it presents evaluative alternatives that reconceptualize evaluation as an integral part of the active development process rather than a periodic add-on. For development practice, the book offers innovative approaches that redefine evaluation as a continuous and iterative endeavor, enhancing its relevance and impact. For evaluation theory, it highlights a historical emphasis on improving evaluation without adequately assessing its inherent value. It also considers alternative strategies to enhance the value of evaluation for small non-profits, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of evaluation's role in the development sector.

Weight: 315g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030589813
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021