Discussions about evaluation methods have increasingly focused on the need to choose methods to suit each particular situation – the type of intervention, the timing of the evaluation, and the availability of resources, including existing information, skills and time. It is also increasingly clear that the question is not about which method to use, but which combination of methods – using several methods to cover the limitations in any one method, and choosing methods that cover the range of tasks involved in an evaluation, including identifying values and synthesizing information, as well as collecting data.

This session will introduce BetterEvaluation, a new international collaboration to improve evaluation practice and theory. At the heart of the project, and currently approaching beta-testing, is an interactive web-based platform about evaluation methods and approaches that supports evaluators and evaluation commissioners to choose more appropriate combinations of evaluation approaches and methods, and to implement these methods better. Surrounding this is a network of collaborators who co-create the content by sharing information and examples from their experience with specific evaluation methods, by linking to other resources about evaluation methods and approaches, by conducting special events such as webinars, demonstrations and write-shops, and by conducting research and development projects on specific evaluation methods.

The presentation will cover the main features of the BetterEvaluation site, discuss challenges such as avoiding paradigmatic schisms, and ensuring the quality, accessibility and utility of material, and explain how organizations can become involved in the development of the site.

The session will be presented by John Whalen, President of the Pact Institute, Mary Ngugi, Program Manager, Global Results and Measurement. Pact, Inc., and Patricia Rogers, Professor of Public Sector Evaluation, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

BetterEvaluation is supported by funding from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Pact Institute. Founding partners are the Institutional Learning and Change initiative of the Collaborative Group for Agricultural Research (Italy), the Overseas Development Institute (UK), Pact Inc. (USA) and RMIT University (Australia)