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Why Community-Based Evaluation?

Community-based evaluation actively involves stakeholders in all elements of evaluation, from planning to implementation. Community-based evaluation is:

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  • Stakeholder driven: Ensure that the evaluation is practically relevant to stakeholders and is driven by the program’s unique theory of change

  • Participatory: Program stakeholders and researchers equitably share control of the evaluation agenda through active and reciprocal involvement in the evaluation design, implementation and dissemination

  • Action-oriented: The evaluation process and results are useful to stakeholders in making improvements to the program and contribute to communities where everyone is supported and belongs

As an approach, community-based evaluation can help localize the SDGS by:

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  • Building relationships, and sparking conversations about collective impacts locally and globally

  • Supporting community-organizations and relevant stakeholders in identifying concrete steps and tools that reflect local priorities

  • Encouraging reflection on how local actions fit into broader global goals

  • Localizing targets and indicators by starting with community-driven (rather than expert-led) evaluation efforts

  • Engaging community members to take an active role in the evaluation, mobilize key allies, and lead to community-owned and governed initiatives

  • Amplifying the voices of those most impacted by the social and environmental issues connected with the 17 SDGs 

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