MADRE
Evaluation Questions
MADRE believes that project monitoring and outcome evaluation are essential components of capacity building and organizational growth. We continually evaluate the impact our initiatives have on the lives of women and the infrastructures of the communities in which we work. We base our evaluations on the following questions:
- How has the project increased women’s ability to function as decision-makers in their families, communities and society as a whole?
- How has the project helped the community meet basic needs (e.g., nutritious food, clean water, safe shelter and culturally-sensitive schools and healthcare services)?
- How have local leaders and community members participated in the planning and implementation of the project? What is their assessment of its successes and challenges? How has the project enhanced the capacities of local leaders?
- Has the project deepened people’s understanding of human rights and improved their access to information about the local mechanisms that exist to demand and protect those rights? Has it helped them to understand the relationship between local mechanisms and international law?
- How has the project strengthened the international network of women human rights and social justice advocates?
- How will the project continue to grow and how can it be adapted and replicated in other communities?
- What popular education materials were produced as part of the project? How can they be distributed?
- What is the scope of the project’s influence? Has it affected local, regional, national or international policy-making and, if so, how?
- What difficulties were encountered and how were they solved or not solved?
- Did the initial project budget reflect actual costs? Were funds allocated efficiently?
- What are the current needs of the community and of the partner organization serving the community? How do they differ from the period before the project was implemented?
In cooperation with our partners, MADRE:
- provides technical assistance for program adjustments
- conducts site visits during the program year to ensure that projects meet their objectives
- participates in formal organizational strategy and planning discussions with our partners and community leaders.
The highly personalized, direct nature of the sister relationship fosters fluid communication. MADRE receives monthly reports from our partners that detail the development and implementation of their projects. In addition, MADRE actively solicits oral and written feedback from community women, trainers and workshop participants and integrates their responses into our evaluation and planning processes. We also involve our Board of Directors in the evaluation process, drawing on their varied expertise to develop work plans and make program adjustments.
