questionsforevaluators.docVIP

Questions for evaluators It may be useful for evaluators to refer to a checklist of questions commonly asked in evaluations. A list of potential questions is presented below (drawing heavily from Martin, L. ‘Planning and Organising Useful Evaluations’, UNHCR, January 1998). Understanding the situation – How was the initial situation assessed? What access was there to the affected populations? What data was collected, and how was it analysed? – What would have happened if no assistance had been given? – Were lives in danger? – What are the security implications of providing/not providing assistance? Were these considered? – Are new movements of people/other significant events possible? Have contingency plans been made for this? – How have beneficiary groups been identified? Using what characterisation? Were the special needs of certain groups (children, female-headed households, disabled, ethic minorities) considered? Are any groups (unintentionally) favoured over others as a consequence of the way the programme was setup? Are beneficiaries unfairly assisted in relationship to host/other populations? – Was the impact of the emergency and the humanitarian programme on host populations and the local environment considered? – What background research was carried out on the culture and history of beneficiary groups? How were information gaps filled? – What efforts were made to obtain reliable disaggregated population figures? – What range of solutions were considered to the problem? EVALUATING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMES in complex emergencies – Were other agencies included in analysis of the problem and the drawing up of response plans? Were response plans ‘holistic’ or very much determined by the mandate of individual organisations? – What analysis has been undertaken of possible long-term solutions to the problems? – What is the quality of this analysis? – Were preparedness activities carried-out? Reviewing the plan – Have lessons been learnt from