Resources: participatory approaches

Who are the question makers?

OESP, 1997, Who are the question makers? A participatory evaluation handbook, published by UNDP

The UNDP Office for Evaluation and Strategic Planning (OESP) conducted a project to assess the value and the role of participation in evaluation and this manual wants to provide UNDP staff and other development practitioners with information on participatory approaches to evaluation. Specifically, the guide includes reference to tools, exercises and case studies to help practitioners translate plans and theory into actions and practice.

This handbook provides an overview of participatory evaluation, but it does not discuss it in great details. The first part of the guide very briefly introduces the concept of participatory evaluation, pointing out that it developed from techniques such as participatory action research, rapid rural appraisal, participatory learning and action, self-evaluation, and beneficiary assessment. The second section focuses more on the functions of and rationale for participatory evaluation, while part three reflects on the role of participatory evaluation within UNDP. Part four is a brief step by step guide on how to conduct a participatory evaluation, and part five present a case study to make readers understand how participatory evaluation methods can be applied in development practice. This last section of the handbook can be used as a stand-alone exercise, and it is presented in the form of a training module. A glossary, examples of some of the basic tools for participatory evaluation and a list of resources are presented in the annexes at the end of the guide.

© 2009 People and Development.