F1ID 4035 - Evaluating Development - The Fundamentals

This course serves as an entry point to PSIA new evaluation learning pathway. Evaluation is an essential function in the development world. Evaluator is a profession that is in demand and for which there is a need for more specialized training.
This course is a foundational one about evaluation applied to development. It aims to build student skills on evaluation but also to develop their capacity to critically reflect on what evaluation design and approaches to use when and for what.
The course starts with an introduction of what an evaluation is, how distinct it is from monitoring. The course then moves onto describing the context of evaluations: the subject of evaluation, the stakeholders, the timing and the purpose. From the fourth session the class follows the different steps of the evaluation logic from the evaluation questions, design and approaches to the data analysis.

Learning Outcomes
1. Identify evaluation stakes and stakeholders
2. Frame an evaluation matrix
3. Decide which evaluative approach is best suited for which evaluations questions
4. Explain the key features of the evaluation logic

Professional Skills
1. Evaluation
2. Data collection and analysis
3. Teamwork
4. Problem solving

Hélène JUILLARD

Séminaire

English

- Face to face lectures: 16 hours
- Group work in class: 8 hours
- Self-study: journal article, podcast & E-learning: 40h a semester
- Autonomous group work: 40 hours a semester
- Individual research: 46 hours a semester

None.

Autumn and Spring 2024-2025

Formative assessment:
1) Written:
- Mid-term video, 25% of the final mark
- Evaluation matrix, 35% of the final mark
Individual 500 words written feedback on one of the mid-term video - Individual assignment 30% of the final mark

2) Oral:
- Individual mark of the overall participation during the semester: 10% of the final mark

The class uses a mix of theory and group work exercises so that students can apply their learning. Students attend the lecture in plenary and also work in group, starting from the fourth session. On the basis of real-life evaluation terms of reference, the objective of the group work is for students to construct an evaluation matrix.