Funding constraints now pose a major challenge for humanitarian and development organisations, particularly in contexts where people’s needs continue to grow.
On the ground, reduced resources can lead to less frequent assessments, less in-depth data collection and difficulties in ensuring regular monitoring of beneficiaries and the outcomes of interventions. However, in the fields of food security, climate resilience, agroecology and disaster management, reliable data is essential for guiding decisions and ensuring that available resources genuinely meet the needs of communities.
In my view, the solution does not lie in eliminating or weakening evaluation functions, but in promoting approaches that are more strategic, participatory and tailored to the resources available. This involves, in particular, strengthening local capacities, using accessible digital tools for data collection and analysis, pooling resources between organisations, and integrating monitoring, evaluation and learning right from the project design stage.
It is also essential to prioritise relevant indicators, to value communities’ knowledge, and to ensure that evaluation findings are actually used to improve interventions.
Ultimately, evaluation should not be viewed as an additional cost, but as a strategic investment that improves programme effectiveness, accountability to communities and the sustainable impact of actions, even in times of financial constraints.
RE: Evaluation under pressure : Strengthening evidence use, accountability and learning amidst funding constraints (Joint EvalforEarth-ALNAP discussion)
Côte d'Ivoire
JEAN EUDES NGUESSAN BEUGRE
Consultant
Posted on 13/10/2026
Funding constraints now pose a major challenge for humanitarian and development organisations, particularly in contexts where people’s needs continue to grow.
On the ground, reduced resources can lead to less frequent assessments, less in-depth data collection and difficulties in ensuring regular monitoring of beneficiaries and the outcomes of interventions. However, in the fields of food security, climate resilience, agroecology and disaster management, reliable data is essential for guiding decisions and ensuring that available resources genuinely meet the needs of communities.
In my view, the solution does not lie in eliminating or weakening evaluation functions, but in promoting approaches that are more strategic, participatory and tailored to the resources available. This involves, in particular, strengthening local capacities, using accessible digital tools for data collection and analysis, pooling resources between organisations, and integrating monitoring, evaluation and learning right from the project design stage.
It is also essential to prioritise relevant indicators, to value communities’ knowledge, and to ensure that evaluation findings are actually used to improve interventions.
Ultimately, evaluation should not be viewed as an additional cost, but as a strategic investment that improves programme effectiveness, accountability to communities and the sustainable impact of actions, even in times of financial constraints.