Pivoting to online: The benefits, challenges and possibilities for international programme evaluations

Abstract

Global South non-government organizations rely on international funding and aid for continued service delivery. Service evaluation plays a significant role in ensuring compliance and ongoing service funding. Traditional service evaluation approaches could not take place during 2021 due to COVID-19, alternate mechanisms needed to be embraced. This article reports on the benefits and challenges of undertaking service evaluations online during the pandemic and the learnings and possibilities for a post-pandemic world. It emphasizes the importance of translating a relational approach to service evaluation to the online environment. Key learnings include that while some of the benefits of context and in-person connection are lost, taking a relational approach involving careful planning and reflexivity means the online evaluation process can be successful. Undertaking service evaluations online offers possibilities in a post-pandemic world as cost-effective alternatives to the expensive and time-consuming reality of in-person service evaluation across international borders and within development contexts.