Catholic Releif Services (CRS) -West and Central Africa
Posted on 21/08/2025
The challenge of translating evaluation findings into actionable organizational change remains one of our sector's most persistent issues. From my experience in program management and MEAL systems in West Africa, I believe we must fundamentally shift how we conceptualize evaluation within the project lifecycle.
One of the primary barriers to feedback utilization lies in our prevailing evaluation culture that treats evaluations as compliance deliverables rather than strategic learning tools. Once an evaluation report receives internal or donor approval, organizations often consider the process complete, missing critical opportunities for adaptive management and program quality improvement. This "tick-box mentality" creates a disconnect between evaluation investment and organizational learning outcomes.
Systematic Solution:
At Catholic Relief Services (CRS), we have institutionalized a systematic approach that demonstrates how feedback can be effectively integrated into decision-making cycles:
Key processes:
Stakeholder Reflection Sessions: Following each evaluation, teams conduct reflection sessions on evaluation findings with community members, partners, and other stakeholders to generate appropriate recommendations and inform agency learning
Actionable Improvement Planning: Lessons learned and realistic recommendations are translated into improvement action plans with designated responsibility holders
Systematic Tracking: The improvement action plan is monitored and systematically tracked during subsequent evaluations (when relevant)
Performance Integration: Regular performance and reflection meetings include dedicated agenda items on recommendation implementation status.
This approach has been successfully implemented across multiple contexts, with practical examples of use in CRS Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Benin, and Togo, particularly as part of the McGovern-Dole Food for Education program and other interventions.
Ndiacé DANGOURA - MEAL & KM Regional Advisor -CRS West Africa
RE: How to Ensure Effective Utilization of Feedback and Recommendations from Evaluation Reports in Decision-Making
Senegal
Ndiacé DANGOURA
MEAL & Knowledge Management - Regional Advisor
Catholic Releif Services (CRS) -West and Central Africa
Posted on 21/08/2025
The challenge of translating evaluation findings into actionable organizational change remains one of our sector's most persistent issues. From my experience in program management and MEAL systems in West Africa, I believe we must fundamentally shift how we conceptualize evaluation within the project lifecycle.
One of the primary barriers to feedback utilization lies in our prevailing evaluation culture that treats evaluations as compliance deliverables rather than strategic learning tools. Once an evaluation report receives internal or donor approval, organizations often consider the process complete, missing critical opportunities for adaptive management and program quality improvement. This "tick-box mentality" creates a disconnect between evaluation investment and organizational learning outcomes.
Systematic Solution:
At Catholic Relief Services (CRS), we have institutionalized a systematic approach that demonstrates how feedback can be effectively integrated into decision-making cycles:
Key processes:
This approach has been successfully implemented across multiple contexts, with practical examples of use in CRS Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Benin, and Togo, particularly as part of the McGovern-Dole Food for Education program and other interventions.
Ndiacé DANGOURA - MEAL & KM Regional Advisor -CRS West Africa