This course considers some of the challenges that evaluators and evaluation contract managers face when striving to have an impartial evaluation of a programme. The topic is highly sensitive, but relevant to all sectors. However, the course will focus in particular on the humanitarian context where it has been less openly discussed. Although there are certainly political factors stemming from ideological and policy debates that can affect the “success” of an intervention, this course will particularly focus on how the “political” interests of the various partners involved can influence the evaluation process. It will consider some of the main elements giving rise to a conflict of interest :
- between the evaluator and programme sponsors and implementers,
- between the evaluation contract manager and her/his organisation’s internal partners.
The course will then go on to look at what measures can be taken to address these potential threats and protect the professional integrity of the evaluator and the contract manager.