Institutional Learning and Change Initiative

Abstract:

Evaluating Capacity Development in Research and Development Organizations is a three-year project designed to contribute to capacity building in research and development
organizations through better evaluation. The project, which began in January 2000, has the following objectives:
? To strengthen the ability of participants to evaluate capacity development efforts
? To prepare a set of evaluation studies on capacity development efforts
? To draw general conclusions and share learning among network members
? Based on the above, to compile and disseminate concepts, methods, and tools that can be broadly used to support the evaluation of capacity development
A Midterm Review and Synthesis Workshop was held during July 2001. Individuals who carried out the above evaluation studies met with specialists in capacity development
and evaluation to review their studies, draw general conclusions concerning the capacity development process, and identify methodological lessons for improving future
evaluations of capacity development programs. The five evaluation case studies highlighted similarities as well as differences between the approaches taken and the methods used.
All participants agreed they had learned a great deal. Based on their personal experiences in evaluating their own capacity development efforts, the participants identified a number
of emerging general lessons.