Abstract: Organizations are required to evaluate their programs for both learning and accountability purposes, which has increased the need to build their internal evaluation capacity. A remaining challenge is access to tools that lead to valid evidence supporting internal capacity development. The authors share practical insights from the development and use of the Evaluation Capacity Needs Assessment tool and framework and implications for using its data to make concrete decisions within Canadian contexts. The article refers to validity evidence generated from factor analyses and structural equation modelling and describes how applying the framework can be used to identify individual and organizational evaluation capacity strengths and gaps, concluding with practice considerations and future directions for this work.

View Text

Abstract: This study provides a reflexive analysis of evaluative practice in the health sector in Burkina Faso. A sample of ten evaluations carried out in the health sector since 2011 was analyzed. The descriptive analysis shows that current evaluation practices vary very widely across the country. Most evaluation reports do not comply with international norms and standards in evaluation, in particular with regard to the definition of terms of reference and evaluation questions, the precision of evaluation criteria and the quality of the methodology. We conclude that a culture of evaluation must be developed and capacity must be built for better capitalization of experiences and for evidence-based decision-making.

Abstract: Quebec and Canadian organizations, communities, and professionals working collectively to address complex social issues in dynamic contexts are enthusiastically embracing social innovation. Some of this innovation’s limitations have been revealed by formative and summative evaluation approaches. Developmental evaluation (DE) could be a potential solution. This article combines scientifi c literature with the experience of experienced DE practitioners in Quebec. Balancing project management and evaluation, knowledge production and transformation of practices, continuous iterations and setting deadlines is at the very core of an eff ective DE approach.

Abstract: Over the past few years, multiple anxiety prevention programs for teenagers have been developed and implemented in schools. However, these programs are seldom systematically evaluated and scaled up for use in all schools. When the programs are evaluated, data collection often involves the use of a logbook completed by facilitators. This method’s specific methodological function in a program evaluation involving multiple data sources has not been systematically analyzed to date. This article uses the example of the HORS-PISTE program to show the logbook’s advantages, limitations, and challenges as a data collection method.

Abstract: Principles-focused developmental evaluation is an emergent method of evaluation that is increasingly achieving relevance in initiatives seeking to transform health-care delivery within complex-adaptive systems. Creating meaningful eff ectiveness principles is considered a crucial first step in setting up such evaluations. In this article, we describe four practical steps that we applied in defi ning eff ectiveness principles to align with Patton’s GUIDE criteria. To illustrate our approach, this article features three principles-focused developmental evaluations implemented in British Columbia, highlighting lessons learned through the process of creating eff ectiveness principles.