Evaluation

Evaluation information helps to improve project performance and guide modification of project activities.

The project design should:

• provide base data for measuring progress
• identify performance measures
• specify the evaluation process
• provide for evaluation feedback into project implementation.

For larger projects, formal reviews are commonly undertaken mid-term, end of project, and post-project.

Projects are evaluated to:

• ensure they are achieving their objectives (measuring inputs and outputs, meeting milestones)
• determine whether they are meeting the need for which they were designed and are sustainable (measuring outcomes)
• verify that the original concept is still relevant and well-targeted (applying learning from evaluation)
• check they are meeting the funding agency’s overall goals
• make sure certain resources are being used efficiently
• ensure they are being managed efficiently and appropriately.

After floods in 1999, the Ministry of Health, through the Hokianga Health Enterprise Trust, funded the Whirinaki community to construct a safe water supply.

The project evaluation identified several contributing factors which played a part in the pilot project being a success. These included the political climate, consultation and liaison, community ownership, project management and the use of kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) negotiation and relationship building.

The lead funder prototype is where a single government agency acts as the lead agent when contracting with an NGO that receives funding from more than one government agency.

The pilot project reviewed funding arrangements and sought ways of reducing the compliance costs for community organisations.