The BetterEvaluation Resource Library contains hundreds of curated and co-created resources related to managing, conducting, using, and strengthening capacity for evaluation.
You can use the search field and filtering on this page to find resources that you are interested in or you can browse our extensive list. An alternative way to find resources best suited to your needs is to explore the Rainbow Framework, where you can find resources relating to evaluation methods, approaches and tasks.
Learning from data innovation
This episode from the IEG podcast 'What have we learned' features Brenda Barbour and Jos Vaessen discussing the opportunities and challenges of using innovative technologies with evaluation data.Evaluating sustainability: Evaluative support for managing processes in the public interest
This special issue of New Directions in Evaluation includes discussions of different types of sustainability – sustainable environment, sustainable development, sustainable programs, and sustainable evaluation systems – and a synthesis of tEvaluation at the nexus between nature and humanity for transformational change
This chapter from Transformational Evaluation for the Global Crises of Our Times argues for the need to transform evaluation in the light of current environmental crises and sets out the major ways this needs to happen.Editorial: Unlearning some of our social scientist habits
In this journal article, Jane Davidson advocates for better evaluation practice by picking apart four common practices in academic and social research that evaluators might inappropriately apply when working in the field of evaluation.Tracking emerging networks
This guide was developed for the NextGen programme of the Prince Claus Fund to get insight into how young and creative organisations change over time, and how such organisations develop their interactions as a group or network.Integrating environment into evaluations [video]
This Evaluation Practice Exchange Seminar was organized by the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) in cooperation with the Footprint Evaluation project of BetterEvaluation and the Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI).Reporting on outcomes: Setting performance expectations and telling performance stories
This paper by John Mayne provides a practical guide to telling performance stories and setting expectations about what level of performance was expected.Systemic thinking for monitoring: Attending to interrelationships, perspectives, and boundaries
This discussion note from USAID presents "attending to interrelationships, multiple perspectives, and boundaries" as a key principle underlying complexity-aware monitoring.Synchronizing monitoring with the pace of change in complexity
This discussion note from USAID argues for synchronizing monitoring with the pace of change as a key principle underlying complexity-aware monitoring.Managing for impact in rural development, a guide for project M&E, section 2: Using M&E to manage for impact
This resource published by IFAD discusses how monitoring and evaluation can be used to manage projects to maximise their impact, in this case on poverty reduction.Australian Volunteers program monitoring, evaluation and learning framework
This example of a monitoring, evaluation and learning framework sets out the approach to assessing the performance of the Australian Volunteers Program. This resource and the following information was contributed by Jo Hall.Making adaptive rigour work: Principles and practices for strengthening monitoring, evaluation and learning for adaptive management
This briefing from the Global Learning for Adaptive Management (GLAM) initiative sets out key elements of an ‘adaptive rigour’ approach to adaptive management.OED guidance note on evaluation syntheses
This document from the FAO Office of Evaluation provides guidance for evaluators to plan, formulate and conduct evaluation syntheses. This resource and the following information was contributed by Renata Mirulla.Planting the seeds for high-quality program evaluation in public health
This free e-text book, created as a collaboration between the evaluation staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Asthma Control Program and Fierro Consulting Inc., provides a practical introduction to program evalComplexity-aware monitoring, evaluation & learning tools for social and behavior change interventions
This toolkit contains three tools to help design and evaluate complexity-aware social and behavior Change interventions. This resource and the following information was contributed by Lenette Golding.Estimated costs for evaluation services depending on the scale of the program being evaluated
The resource provides a guide for the expected costs of various evaluative activities in an Australian context. This resource and the following information was contributed by George Argyrous.Demonstrating outcomes and impact across different scales
This research report from the Research for Development Impact Network demonstrates how evidence of outcomes and impact can be better captured, integrated and reported on across different scales of work for Australian NGOs working in internaDoes development give poor people what they want?
This four-page Overseas Development Institute (ODI) background note introduces a central problem in development – that interventions do not address the key concerns of poor people.Writing terms of reference for an evaluation: A how to guide
This resource, developed by the Independent Evaluation Group of The World Bank, provides a detailed description on how to prepare an evaluation Terms of Reference (ToR) and includes a checklist at the end to help users.Most Significant Change (MSC) used for NGO self-evaluation process
This overview from Capacity.org outlines the process and findings of an NGO self-evaluation process that used Most Significant Change to evaluate the organisational development services offered by the group.ADS chapter 203: Assessing and learning
This chapter provides guidance for USAID Missions, Regional Platforms, and Washington Bureaus and Offices, also known as USAID Mission/Offices, on Agency practices and standards used to determine how well Assistance Objectives (AOs) are achRandomized control trials: Rationale and requirements
This slide show by Dr Howard White presents the use of randomized control trials (RCTs) in impact evaluation.Economic analysis of investment operations – Analytical tools and practical applications
This guide presents information about different tools for economic evaluation.L’Évaluation en situation réelle
Dans le Chapitre 16 du livre, nous examinons les façons dont les approches d’Évaluation en situation réelle (ESR) peuvent être appliquées à tous les stades de la conception et de la mise en œuvre d’une évaluation typique.Evaluation report writing
What elements should you highlight in your evaluation reports? How can you craft your evaluation reports so they are both readable and useful for program managers? What is the right balance between narrative explanation and data visualization?Writing for professional audiences
American University’s Measurement & Evaluation program recently held a virtual workshop on Writing for Professional Audiences with Sherri McCarthy.Mainstreaming Environmental Sustainability in Evaluations where the environment is not the focus (Webinar recording)
This recorded webinar featuring Scott Chaplow, Juha Uitto, Eddah Kanini, and Lennise Baptiste provides a useful discussion of evaluation's role in mainstreaming environmental concerns, as well as practical guidance and resources for evaluators on how toSetting new standards for better MEL: Lessons for grantees & funders
This brief shares insights from the efforts of The Economic Justice Program (EJP) of the Open Society Foundations' Strategy & Impact Unit to develop a focused, principles‑driven approach to monitoring and evaluation.Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) toolkit for grantmakers and grantees
Resources to support and inspire better MEL among donors, grantees, and their partners, developed by a global grant-making team.Rebalancing grantee/donor power for better MEL
Though it’s not often acknowledged, funders are almost entirely reliant on grantee MEL practices to understand the impact of their resources in the world.Designing donor MEL systems and policies
Like other grant-making organizations, the Open Society Foundations achieve impact largely through the work of its grantees. But this doesn’t mean that MEL is limited to grantees alone.Emphasizing evaluative thinking for complex systems change
Each portfolio team within the Economic Justice Program was tasked with creating its own approach to learning and evaluation to address the complex challenges that it was seeking to address.