International Development Cooperation Theory Practice And Evaluation

This book studies the theory, practice and evaluation methods of international development cooperation, aid and assistance management in detail from a global perspective. It attempts to answer the following questions: How effective are the current Western aid methods? How should China optimize current international development cooperation? How to effectively design an aid management system in the international community? How to assess the effectiveness of aid?The book contributes to studies in international development cooperation. The theoretical part analyzes the main concepts, viewpoints, theories, and disputes in current international development cooperation, primarily focusing on the differences in concepts between traditional development donors and emerging donors represented by China. The practical part studies the roles and importance of different subjects in international development assistance. This part also explores the impact of different aid management institutions on international development cooperation. The evaluation part reviews the current mainstream methods of international development assessment and uses non-experimental methods of impact evaluation and randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

This book studies the theory, practice and evaluation methods of international development cooperation, aid and assistance management in detail from a global perspective. It attempts to answer the following questions: How effective are the current Western aid methods? How should China optimize current international development cooperation? How to effectively design an aid management system in the international community? How to assess the effectiveness of aid? The book contributes to studies in international development cooperation. The theoretical part analyzes the main concepts, viewpoints, theories, and disputes in current international development cooperation, primarily focusing on the differences in concepts between traditional development donors and emerging donors represented by China. The practical part studies the roles and importance of different subjects in international development assistance. This part also explores the impact of different aid management institutions on international development cooperation. The evaluation part reviews the current mainstream methods of international development assessment and uses non-experimental methods of impact evaluation and randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

This book presents leading-edge analysis on the theory and practice of participatory evaluation around the world. With its instructive case studies from Bangladesh, El Salvador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, and St Vincent, the book is a guide to a community-based approach to evaluation that is at once a learning process, a means of taking action, and a catalyst for empowerment.Knowledge Shared is the most comprehensive book now available on participatory evaluation. It is intended primarily as a tool for practitioners and policymakers in all segments of development cooperatio.

This book discusses the crucial place that assumptions hold in conceptualizing, implementing, and evaluating development programs. It suggests simple ways for stakeholders and evaluators to 1) examine their assumptions about program theory and environmental conditions and 2) develop and carry out effective program monitoring and evaluation in light of those assumptions. A survey of evaluators from an international development agency reviewed the state of practice on assumptions-aware evaluation. This 2nd edition has been updated with further illustrations, case studies, and frameworks that have been researched and tested in the years since the first edition. Regardless of geography or goal, development programs and policies are fueled by a complex network of implicit ideas. Stakeholders may hold assumptions about purposes, outcomes, methodology, and the value of project evaluation and evaluators—which may or may not be shared by the evaluators. A major barrier to viable program evaluations is that development programs are based on assumptions that often are not well articulated. In designing programs, stakeholders often lack clear outlines for how implemented interventions will bring desired changes. This lack of clarity masks critical risks to program success and makes it challenging to evaluate such programs. Methods that have attempted to address this dilemma have been popularized as theory of change or other theory‐based approaches. Often, however, theory-based methods do not sufficiently clarify how program managers or evaluators should work with the assumptions inherent in the connections between the steps. The critical examination of assumptions in evaluation is essential for effective evaluations and evaluative thinking. "How does one think evaluatively? It all begins with assumptions. Systematically articulating, examining, and testing assumptions is the foundation of evaluative thinking... This book, more than any other, explains how to build a strong foundation for effective interventions and useful evaluation by rigorously working with assumptions." —Michael Quinn Patton, PhD. Author of Utilization-Focused Evaluation and co-editor of THOUGHTWORK: Thinking, Action, and the Fate of the World, USA. "This updated edition presents us with a new opportunity to delve into both the theoretical and practical aspects of paradigmatic, prescriptive, and causal assumptions. We need to learn, and apply these insights with the deep attention they deserve." —Zenda Ofir, PhD. Independent Evaluator, Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow, Robert Bosch Academy, Berlin, Germany. Honorary Professor, School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. “This thought-provoking book explains why assumptions are an essential condition within the theories and methodologies of evaluation; and how assumptions influence the ways that evaluators approach their work...It will enrich the ways that evaluators develop their models, devise their methodologies, interpret their data, and interact with their stakeholders.” —Jonny Morell, Ph.D., President, 4.669... Evaluation and Planning, Editor Emeritus, Evaluation and Program Planning

There is a broad and enduring international consensus that good governance and the rule of law are important for the attainment of sustainable development results. But recognizing that good governance is important for development is one thing; carrying out effective international programs to support improved governance is something very different. It seems logical that international cooperation efforts intended to help achieve such results should include programmatic support for these important elements. During the past 30 years the development cooperation agenda has expanded to include programs to strengthen a broad range of public institutions—parliaments, judicial systems, election bodies, municipal governments, anticorruption agencies, and human rights defenders—along with the related roles of civil society and the private sector. Over that time, lessons have been learned about working effectively in these sensitive areas at the intersection of economics, law, and politics. However, in many cases progress has been disappointing or the impact uncertain.

개발원조와 빈곤퇴치라는 국제적 이슈에 대한 이해를 돕고자 하는 『Introduction to International Development Cooperation』은 세 측면에서 논의를 진행하고 있다. 첫째, 빈곤문제와 대외원조문제가 어떻게 해서 세계적인 주요 의제로 떠올랐는지를 규명하고자 한다. 이를 위해 역사적인 맥락을 먼저 살피는데 제2차 세계대전부터 시작된 대외원조의 변화 추이를 원조국과 수혜국의 입장에서 분석한다. 둘째는, 지난 50여 년간 국제사회가 이룩한 구호활동과 빈곤퇴치 등의 업적을 객관적으로 평가하고 앞으로 해결해야 할 과제들을 고찰한다. 끝으로, 그간 국제사회의 이러한 활동에는 여러 복잡한 문제와 관행, 그리고 여러 계층의 사람들이 관여하게 되어 도정되는 문제들도 있었다. 이러한 문제해결을 위한 글로벌거버넌스 프레임 워크 구축은 매우 중요하며, 대외원조 효과를 극대화하기 위해서는 여러 관계자 간의 협력 네트워크 구축이 필요함을 강조한다.

This engaging text takes an evenhanded approach to major theoretical paradigms in evaluation and builds a bridge from them to evaluation practice. Featuring helpful checklists, procedural steps, provocative questions that invite readers to explore their own theoretical assumptions, and practical exercises, the book provides concrete guidance for conducting large- and small-scale evaluations. Numerous sample studies—many with reflective commentary from the evaluators—reveal the process through which an evaluator incorporates a paradigm into an actual research project. The book shows how theory informs methodological choices (the specifics of planning, implementing, and using evaluations). It offers balanced coverage of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. Useful pedagogical features include: *Examples of large- and small-scale evaluations from multiple disciplines. *Beginning-of-chapter reflection questions that set the stage for the material covered. *"Extending your thinking" questions and practical activities that help readers apply particular theoretical paradigms in their own evaluation projects. *Relevant Web links, including pathways to more details about sampling, data collection, and analysis. *Boxes offering a closer look at key evaluation concepts and additional studies. *Checklists for readers to determine if they have followed recommended practice. *A companion website with resources for further learning.