RE: Evaluability Assessments: An invitation to reflect and discuss

To my understanding, if project cycle management is effectively carried out  of a given project, the envisaged benefits of the  Evaluability Assesment are inbuilt within  the project cycle management.  Thus,  all such projects are Evaluable.  I do not see the need for standalone   Evaluability Assessment.  Usually, projects are funded after they pass through various steps/phases of validation by stakeholders to ensure their feasibility,  smooth implementation and  that the  envisaged outcomes and impacts are realized.  These phases/steps include as we understand: problem identification; feasibility study; stakeholder analysis; initial conceptualization; project planning; implementation plan; evaluation and monitoring plan. In addition projects are appraised before implementation. Further, during implementation, among others, timely and regular monitoring and reporting are done and communicated among key stakeholders, with the objective to ensure/check projects are implemented rightly and to take timely corrective measures if otherwise.   So to conclude, given the current widely reported financial constraint to fund projects, why do we need to conduct standalone EA, if sound/effective/contemporary/informed project cycle management is employed and  projects are apprised properly? 
 

With regards,

 

Hadera Gebru

Senior Consultant, Livestock and Natural 

Resource Management Specialist

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia