Types of evaluation

Types of evaluation

1. Formative

   • It is usually conducted when a new program or activity is being developed or when an existing one is being adapted or modified.
     • WHEN: New program development
       • WHAT:: The need for your project among the potential beneficiaries
         • Why: Helps make early improvements to the program

2. Process/implementation evaluation

   • Determines whether program activities have been implemented as intended
     • WHEN: When program implementation begins
       • What: Whether program goals and strategies are working as they should
         • WHY: Provides an opportunity to avoid problems by spotting them early

3. Outcome/effectiveness evaluation

   • Measures program effects in the target population by assessing the progress in the outcomes or outcome objectives that the program is to achieve.
     • WHEN: After the program has run for some time period
       • WHAT: How much the program has affected the target population
         • WHY: Helps program administrators tell whether a program is meeting its objectives

4. Summative

   • Summative evaluation is conducted after the program’s completion or at the end of a program cycle
     • WHEN: At the end of a program
       • WHAT: How effectively the program made the desired change happen
         • WHY: Provides data to justify continuing the program

5. Impact

   • Impact evaluation studies the entire program from beginning to end
     • WHEN: At the end of the program
       • WHAT: Assesses the change in the target population’s well-being
         • Why: To show proof of impact by comparing beneficiaries with control groups

6. Goals-Based

   • is usually done towards the end of the program or at previously agreed-upon intervals.
     • WHEN: At the end of the program
       • WHAT: How the program has performed on initial metrics
         • WHY: To show that the program is meeting its initial benchmarks