Year: 1998-1999
Client: Swiss Development Corporation (SDC)
Country: Switzerland
Value TA: Sw FR 40,000
In Switzerland many NGOs are active in development-related activities. All of these NGOs have their own history, support group and objectives. Although such heterogeneity has many positive aspects, it also has some disadvantages e.g. because the lessons-to-be-learned from past experiences are too fragmented. At the same time it may be expected that in future issues such as accountability, transparency and organisational learning will become general concerns and more and more important, especially when public funds have been involved.
Against this background, SDC organised a series of workshops involving, initially, some 18 development NGOs. In the workshops the NGOs concerned would exchange their approach and experiences on various types of evaluation. It was expected that in this way a learning process could be stimulated around ?best practice? in evaluation. The preparation, implementation and follow-up of the workshops were facilitated by an independent outsider, Mr. H. van Loo. After a number of workshops had taken place it appeared that indeed lessons could be drawn. However, the progress made in the workshops took more time than anticipated because of the many differences between the NGOs involved, the complexity of the subject matter and the fact that a number of participants found it difficult to be present at each workshop. After about one year, SDC decided to stop their contribution to the workshops. A best practice list was published and discussed at a concluding seminar.