1 | W h a t i s E v a l u a ti o n  

EVALUATION

Evaluation in word means ‘to judge the value of a particular thing’. As the meaning, the
evaluation of a project is to identify the status of the intervention and to know whether the
project is effective to tackle a particular social problem. Project evaluation, in fact enhances
the performance of a project as compared to what was planned and provide the basis for
management.

PURPOSE OF EVALUATION

The purpose of evaluation can be simplified into accountability and knowledge. Project
evaluation is done to:

 Get the knowledge of the social problem and to assess whether the intervention has
any impact or not.
 Use the project fund effectively by the program manager.
 Measure success to avoid future failure.
 Observe the efficiency of the techniques implemented.
 Make sure that the stakeholders are benefited from the program.
 Helps to make future plans.

The basic tools for project evaluation is the ‘process review’ which is done with the purpose
of learning lessons that can help the team to avoid the doing things that cause undesired
outcomes and to continue those that help. The process review is conducted at different phases
during the life time of the project, so as to learn something from it as the project progress.
This periodic process review helps to find the difficulty- in case of serious trouble in project-
so that a decision can be made in order to continue or terminate the project.

A project process review should be conducted by an independent examiner. The main spirit
for such kind of review should be learning rather than punishment. In case if it is conducted in
the spirit of blame and punishment then people may hide problems. A periodic project process
review helps us to improve project performance, find out any developing problems early, and
ensure that the project meets the need of the clients.

PRINCIPLE OF EVALUATION

Evaluation is a continue process. It has to be conducted continuously in various phases so as

to improve management and make sure that the past mistakes are not repeated in the project.
An evaluation has to be inexpensive and one has to make it sure that it doesn’t affect the day
to day work. Since evaluation is done in order to assess the efficiency of techniques implied
and success of a project, therefore it has to be done on a co-operative basis which requires the
total participation. An evaluation process has to be impartial and independent and the result of
it should be shared with the project team.
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TYPES OF EVALUATION

There are different types of evaluation depending on the objective and more specifically on
the level of evaluation. Evaluation is conducted either at the program level or at the project
level.

A program is defined differently depending upon its scope. It might cover a whole sector or a
package of projects with a common goal. On the contrary, a project is a series of activities
focusing on a specific goal which is funded by the program.

A program evaluation is the systematic assessment of the effectiveness or impact of project(s)

under the program. It examines the utility of the policy and strategies implemented by the
project. Project evaluation, on the other hand, is to assess the improvement of the project
which is under the umbrella of the program. It is conducted to see whether the activities are
on the right path as planned and whether they meet the stated goals of the project. The project
evaluation design is part of the proposal and data collection has to begin with the start of the
project.

A project evaluation also includes the observation of the components of the project. The
evaluation of the components of the project is essential since the goals of the components are
related to the overall goal of the project.

Figure 1. Levels of Evaluation

Program

Project Project Project

Component

Component

Component

Component

Component

Component

The basic types of evaluation are the formative and the summative evaluation. The major
distinction between the two is made on the basis of the stages they are conducted. The
formative evaluation is conducted in the initial and ongoing project activities to assess their
performance and the quality of its implementation. The summative evaluation is done at the
end stage of the project to assess the impact of the final implemented project. The following
figure makes the distinction more clear.
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Figure 2. Types of Evaluation

Evaluation

Formative Summative

Implementation Progress

Early Stages Later Stages

Time

FORMATIVE EVALUATION

This type of evaluation is a continuous process which starts with the launch of the project and
periodically conducted during the life of the project. Formative evaluation helps us to get
information on the ongoing activities and to improve the project. The components of the
formative evaluation are:

Implementation Evaluation

This subtype of evaluation is about the implementation of the project. It is conducted to

observe whether the project is implemented according to the plan. Implemented evaluation is
done several times in order to make sure that the components of the project are working
according to the plan.

Progress Evaluation

As the name suggests, this subtype of evaluation is done to observe the progress of the
project. The data by this type of evaluation makes it easy to measure the effectiveness of the
policy and strategies implemented before it is too late.

SUMMATIVE EVALUATION

Summative evaluation is conducted at the last stage of the program which assesses the overall
impact of the program. This type of evaluation, also known as impact evaluation, provides
information on the efficiency of the program and the successes made to achieve its stated
goals.

Summative evaluation is typically quantitative which will help us in the decision making. The
decision regarding modify, either to continue on probationary status, continue, increase or
discontinue funding.
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COUNTERFACTUAL IMPACT EVALUATION

The Counterfactual Impact Evaluation gives the answer to two sets of questions. The first set
of questions answers whether an intervention gives the desired effect or not, and the other set
of questions gives the explanations. This evaluation gives us the quantifying effect of what
would have happened without the program, and to compare it with what actually happened.
The difference would give us the impact of the program.

The impact of a program can never be observed directly. But by contrast, an impact can be
inferred by a credible way of approximation the counterfactual. The approximation of the
counterfactual is done by using either the outcome observed for non-beneficiaries or using the
outcome observed for beneficiaries before intervention.