Thematic meeting 2006
Title:
"Measuring results in development"
Organisation:
This thematic meeting was associated with the CERES Summer School and co-organised with the Interchurch Organisation for Development Cooperation (ICCO) in Utrecht. The organising team included Prof. Dr Ton Dietz (CERES and DPRN), Dieneke de Groot (ICCO) and Dr Mirjam Ros (AMIDSt/Universiteit van Amsterdam and DPRN).
The topic:
In current development practice, 'results' are crucial. Funding agencies, Dutch parliament and the media expect more transparency as regards the output, effects and impact of "all those millions spent on development". Measuring results has also become a major issue in other policy domains, such as health care or education. However, both in policy circles and scientific circles, measuring results is controversial. What can be measured and how? At what levels? With what confidence? And within what timeframes? Does the emphasis on results not create an enormous bureaucracy? Does an emphasis on result measurement mask the importance of the processes resulting in development? Recent reports examine these issues from different perspectives. The DPRN thematic meeting is meant to discuss and weigh the various viewpoints.
Meeting setup:
The meeting started with a series of short introductions on various reports (read: viewpoints) dealing with result measurement in international cooperation. These introductions were followed by a series of working groups in which more in-depth discussion on the various viewpoints took place.
Invited speakers for the introductions are:
- Mr Pim van der Male of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Effectiveness and Quality Directorate (DEK);
- Ms Gemma Crijns, researcher for the Dijkstal commission on 'Draagvlak en Effectiviteit Ontwikkelingssamenwerking' ;
- Prof. Dr Jan Willem Gunning, Development Economist at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam;
- Prof. Dr Ton Dietz, in his capacity of coordinator of the synthesis report of the Thematic Co-financing evaluation.
The working groups were the following:
1. Measuring results: what are the limits?
A debate between Ms. Gemma Crijns, representing the Dijkstal commission, Mr Maarten Brouwer of the Directorate Effectiveness and Quality (DEK) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Prof. Dr Jan Willem Gunning, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
2. Integrating monitoring, evaluation and learning from co-financing and thematic co-financing agencies
A debate based on research carried out in the period 2003-2006. With the participation of Mr Sjoerd Zanen (MDF Training and Consultancy) and Jim Woodhill (Wageningen International), involved in the thematic co-financing sub-evaluation of monitoring and evaluation, and Dr Paul Engel of ECDPM and the External Reference Group of the MBN (Medefinanciering Breed Netwerk) evaluation.
3. Measuring results from economic development, agricultural, environmental and rural development projects, including the integration of gender
With presentations by Ms Lida Zuidberg (Eosconsult) and Ms Edith van Walsum (Voices en Choices), coordinators of the thematic co-financing sub-evaluation of gender; Mr Cor Wattel (ICCO), involved in impact assessment of micro-financing, and Mr Arend-Jan van Bodegom (Wageningen International), coordinator of the thematic co-financing sub-evaluation of biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation.
4. Measuring results in human rights, peace building and social development projects
With the participation of Prof. Dr Willem van Genugten (Tilburg University), coordinator of the thematic co-financing sub-evaluation of human rights; Prof. Dr Gerd Junne (Universiteit van Amsterdam), coordinator of the thematic co-financing sub-evaluation of peace building; and Dr Jan Boessenkool (Utrecht University), coordinator of the thematic co-financing sub-evaluation of HIV/Aids.
5. Measuring results of campaigning for MDG8 on developing a global partnership for development and results of the sector approach
With the participation of Dr Tjalling Dijkstra of the Coherence Unit of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dr Otto Hospes of the Inspection Development Cooperation and Policy Evaluation (IOB).
In the plenary closing session a debate evolved around the statements presented by the working group representatives on evaluation and result measurement in development.
Background documents
The report of this meeting can be found here.
For background documents for this meeting here.