Category: Aid Effectiveness

How effective is our work towards reaching the MDGs?

by Eckhard, posted in Aid Effectiveness, APHA IH Section, MDGs / SDGs

By Elvira Beracochea, MIDEGO

Are we really making a difference? Should we account for our work and present transparent results, good and bad to our peers, host country partners and funding agencies?

This year the IH section hosted the second panel on “Aid Effectiveness and Accountability.” This panel is a follow on to the one we had last year. I am happy that the topic of Aid Effectiveness is raising more attention. I want to thank two guest presenters: Michael Hammer, Executive Director of the One World Trust, who came from the UK for this panel and Elisabeth Sandor of the OECD, who came from Paris for this panel.

One World Trus (www.oneworldtrust.org) is a fifty-year old non-profit organization in the UK evaluating and holding accountable organizations such as DfID, Aga Khan Foundation, etc. Their accountability report is a must for those working in IH. Last year the OECD decided to include health as its tracer sector and is monitoring progress towards the MDGs and the commitments made in Paris Declaration.   Continue reading “How effective is our work towards reaching the MDGs?” →

Who decides what to evaluate, how and when?

by Eckhard, posted in Aid Effectiveness

A systematic review of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimated that 15 percent of all its reports included impact assessments, but noted that “many evaluations were unable to properly assess impact because of methodological shortcomings” (Victora 1995). A review of 127 studies of 258 community health financing programs found that only two studies were able to derive robust conclusions about the impact on access to health services (ILO 2002).

International consensus is growing that more and better impact evaluations are needed. Only by applying scientific rigor can development programs show that they produce results and offer a good return on the investment. The World Bank has made considerable investments in evaluating the impact of many of its development programs. Other donors like the UK and the Netherlands are joining forces. However, impact evaluations are expensive and not all programs need them. Here is the question: How to decide which programs should have an impact evaluation, who should decide and when? Let us know what you think! Continue reading “Who decides what to evaluate, how and when?” →