Hadera Gebru Hagos

My contributions

• Posted on 18 Sep 2023

  How are mixed methods used in programme evaluation?

  Discussion

  • 

    Hadera Gebru Hagos

    Senior Consultant, Natural Resource Management and Livestock Specialist Freelance Consultant

    Ethiopia

    I would like to thank and appreciate all the contributors to the ongoing discussion, which I find it very interesting, awareness raising and inducing rethinking of evaluation methodologies. The discussion has surfaced experiences of different intellectuals with basic research and applied research background and of development professionals.  The various experiences, I believe have deepened and widen the understanding with regard to “how mixed methods are used in programme evaluations”.

    I am development professional in the area of agriculture (livestock and fisheries and natural resource management). From my experience the “how mixed methods are used in development/program evaluations” often depends  on the type of data/information to be evaluated. Thus, depending the nature of the development program/project to be evaluated, the required data could be for example, quantitative and qualitative data.  As we are all aware quantitative data are information that can be quantified, counted or measured, and given a numerical value. While qualitative data is descriptive in nature, expressed in terms of language rather than numerical values.

    I would also like to relate this to “Logical Frame work Approach of project planning”(project which will be later evaluated during implementation). To my understanding most development programs have “Logframe” which clearly shows: program/project goals; outcomes; outputs; activities along with narrative summaries; objectively verifiable indicators; means of verification and assumptions.  Thus during evaluation, the program/project will be evaluated based to what is put in the logeframe , which would require mixed evaluation methods depending the nature of the program/project. For example, among others use of qualitative and qualitative method can help to conduct successful evaluation. Using both qualitative and qualitative methods will strengthen the evaluation.  Apart from quantitative method, qualitative methods, to mention few such as focused group discussions; in-depth interviews; case studies etc. can be used.

     

     

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• Posted on 25 Jul 2023

  Disability inclusion in evaluation

  Discussion

  • 

    Hadera Gebru Hagos

    Senior Consultant, Natural Resource Management and Livestock Specialist Freelance Consultant

    Ethiopia

    Thank you very much for the well consolidate key points from the discussion, which are stepping stones for future improvement measures. Thanks to all who have contributed to the discussion. God bless you all!

    With  regards,

    Hadera

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  • 

    Hadera Gebru Hagos

    Senior Consultant, Natural Resource Management and Livestock Specialist Freelance Consultant

    Ethiopia

    My comment to the ongoing discussion

    1: Are evaluations respecting inclusivity? 
    (Do you consider the concept of inclusive evaluation always respected during design and actual evaluations of projects and programs)?

    • I do not consider the concept of inclusive evaluation always respected during design and- actual evaluations of projects and programs. Reasons include:

    (i) Inclusivity is not mostly mainstreamed within the projects/programs to be evaluated right from their inception and preparation stage;
    (ii) Evaluation ToRs rarely include/attach importance of the need for inclusivity, due to : (a) to less understanding/awareness of the diverse group of people’s disabilities; and (b) budget and time limitation, given the often short time and budget allocated to projects/programs to be evaluated, this is regardless of the size of the project/programs.

    For example, there are cases that five and more year projects, with large geographic coverage are planned to be evaluated within say 10 days or so, with a lot of rush. This happens both for mid and end term evaluations. In such cases let alone to rightly include relevant people with disabilities (which include their care takers and or responsible organizations), even adequate participatory discussions
    and decision taking with people without disabilities are compromised.

    2: What hinders full involvement of people with disabilities in projects and program evaluations?
    Please share personal experiences.

    • Lack/inadequate care takers/ representative organizations which voice for people with disability to fully involve in evaluations;
    • Lack/inadequate tools for ease of communication with evaluators;
    • Lack/inadequate awareness of people with disabilities of their right to be involved in evaluations.

    3: How could Evaluators mitigate the risks associated with absence of inclusive evaluations specifically for people living with disabilities in our communities?

    • Improve their understanding of the importance of the inclusion of people living with disabilities in evaluations;
    • Be committed to be voice for the voice less/ the people with disabilities;
    • Sustained advocacy with this regard and sustained informed move to the designing of guidelines for the inclusion of people living with disabilities in evaluations.

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