Many valuable contributions have been made in the ongoing debate around Participatory Evaluation in times of COVID 19, and today we would like to share another contribution on meaningful lessons ‘in’ and ‘from’ Participatory Evaluation.

This time, we would like to take an example from Costa Rica and listen to Karla Salazar Sánchez, a social researcher and participatory evaluation facilitator. Remember, the invitation to participate remains open and we are interested in hearing from voices on the ground; those who have practice-based knowledge. All contributions are welcome. The many journeys made and times of stumbling and of getting back up; the great discoveries and joys can be made accessible to everyone if you share them with a brief post in this community.

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Here we share a new experience in response to the invitation to share meaningful lessons from Participatory Evaluation. This time the reflection focuses on emotive lessons in participatory monitoring by Dagny Skarwan and her work at ONG – IDEAs. Here, she tells us in first person about her valuable lesson.

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For around three years, I was involved in coordinating the project ONG-IDEAs with German and Latin American colleagues in Central America as well as NGOs in Colombia and Mexico. It was an experience that made a lasting impression on me.

For me, learning how to guide NGOs and facilitator groups in Participatory Evaluation processes and advising them on how to use tools to create a culture of evaluation in their target groups has been a great learning experience. It has also involved growth that has been charged with intense emotions and memories.

Going beyond the formal monitoring proposals (such as creating transparency and accountability), the participatory monitoring focus that we have developed at ONG – IDEAs includes our proposal to generate processes that empower and provide moments of learning for all those involved, focusing on the perspectives, self evaluation and commitment of target groups.

ONG-IDEAs’ approach focuses on several tools that are able to generate information and enable analysis. They work when those who facilitate work together with those who are motivated and available to change their outlook, behaviour, attitudes and practices.It is important to clearly express what I want to change, what my objectives are, why I participate in the group or present an idea for a project.

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We are still receiving reflections and lessons from the invitation we launched a few days ago. This time, Olga Nirenberg, a colleague EvalParticipativa member through CEADEL, shares some of her thoughts with us on a participatory evaluation experience evaluating the health services of a Latin American NGO.

Remember that everyone can participate with their thoughts and lessons!

Prologue

Here I’m going to share an experience that at the time I found negative but which, looking back now, I think was a good lesson for me, the team and especially the women who participated in this “evaluation saga”.

I think that evaluation often clearly portrays differences in stakeholder perspectives and the importance of having their interests and influences mapped out. Furthermore, all stakeholders should always be fully involved. In other words, there should be a multi-stakeholder focus with clear decisions around which voices will be given priority.

The recommendation that arises from the experience that will be shared below touches on the ethical issues involved in participatory evaluation. This means that those of us who are evaluation professionals and who know about methodological issues, have the moral obligation to amplify the quietest voices and those that are not always heard, especially when it is claimed that these same people are the “recipients” of the initiative in question.

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As a result of the invitation launched a few days ago, we have started to receive reflections and lessons from colleagues working in the field of participatory evaluation in different countries of the region. Today, we would like to share with you an experience from Riñanahue, carried out by colleagues working in the Servicio País programme in the Lagos region of Chile.

We will share a new experience with you every week. You are invited to comment on each ‘entry’ at the end of the post itself or through the virtual forum.

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