New book: Advocacy and Policy Change Evaluation: Theory and Practice
Another great new book – this is the first ever book that looks in-depth at concepts, design, tools and methods to conduct advocacy and policy change evaluation – with plenty of practical examples and case studies. I also happy to report that I provided input for one of the case studies which is on an evaluation I carried out on Oxfam’s GROW campaign.
Learn more about the book>>
New book: Monitoring and Evaluation Training: A Systematic Approach
An under-appreciated area has been what is a systematic approach to monitoring and evaluation (M&E) training for programs and projects. Now this gap has been filled with a new book from Scott Chaplowe and J. Bradley Cousins:
Monitoring and Evaluation Training: A Systematic Approach
“Bridging theoretical concepts with practical, how-to knowledge, authors Scott Chaplowe and J. Bradley Cousins draw upon the scholarly literature, applied resources, and over 50 years of combined experience to provide expert guidance for M&E training that can be tailored to different training needs and contexts, from training for professionals or non-professionals, to organization staff, community members, and other groups with a desire to learn and sustain sound M&E practices.”
Advanced M and E Training in the UK
Intrac in the UK is offering an advanced monitoring and evaluation face to face training several times this year – May, September and November 2017.
The course is over five days and covers the following areas:
- Clarifying M&E terminology and the uses of M&E
- Introducing a structure for addressing practical issues and challenges in M&E
- The components of an effective M&E system
- Indicators and how to identify them
- Overview of planning tools to help understand the logic of an intervention and provide a foundation for good M&E
- Strengths, weaknesses and applications of quantitative and qualitative data collection methods and tools
- Introducing more complex tools and methodologies for collecting outcomes and impact data including e.g. RCTs, contribution analysis, outcome mapping, process tracing, most significant
change etc. - Issues to consider when designing and managing an effective evaluation process, and how to close the learning loop and ensure results are used for improvement
- Steps in analysing quantitative and qualitative data, and what makes good quality evidence
- Incorporating learning into M&E – strategies for encouraging results of M&E to be valued and used
How Awareness Campaigns Fail
A very interesting article from the The Stanford Social Innovation Review : “Stop Raising Awareness Already”.
The article critiques a number of awareness campaigns and how they do not achieve what they set out to do – and in some cases may even do harm.
One campaign they look at is the “Dumb way to die” campaign focused on reducing the number of rail accidents in Victoria, Australia. This campaign was much appreciated for its quirky video and song:
However, the campaign failed to address the main cause of railway accidents – the majority were suicides. And as the article states:
“It is worth considering that the video’s charming figures and catchy hook may have actually made death seem more appealing or normal to those already at risk.”
But it’s not all criticism! The article provides some lessons for campaigners:
- Target your audience as narrowly as possible;
- Create compelling messages with clear calls to action;
- Develop a theory of change;
- Use the right messenger.
Webinar: Responding to slow-onset crises
For those interesting in emergency response, research and crises, please join me for this webinar on a recent report I co-authored:
Webinar: Responding to slow-onset crises
Organisation: CHS Alliance
Location:
Date: 28 March 2017
Time: 9am to 10am UK time
Humanitarian agencies are increasingly responding to slow-onset crises despite facing many challenges according to a newly released report on surge practices for slow-onset crises. Join us for a webinar from the Transforming Surge Capacity Project where one of the report’s authors, Glenn O’Neil will present the key findings of the report and its recommendations for changing surge practices and policies to tackle slow-onset crises.
The webinar will be held on Tuesday 28th March at 9:00-10:00 UK time and can be accessed via the following Zoom link https://zoom.us/j/603361958. Please email qadeer.abdilleh@actionaid.org to confirm your attendance.
Resource: Evaluating Policy Influence and Advocacy
The website Better Evaluation has many great resources and explanations of evaluation approaches, processes and methods.
I just came across this page on Evaluating Policy Influence and Advocacy that details well the methods and types of advocacy/policy influence – well worth a read!
Top 10 PR Research Insights of 2016
The US-based Institute for PR has just published their 10 insights from public relations and communications research of 2016. They scanned all major research studies and selected 10 trends; see the infographic below and read the full report here (pdf). My favourites are:
No. 3 – Most companies find it difficult to efficiently utilize available data and analytics
No. 8 – Many PR practitioners fail to execute the theory of two-way communications
