Final evaluation
Yemen
Mohammed Al-Mussaabi
Posted on 16/02/2024
AI has proven to be a powerful assistant for professional evaluators. However, it is essential to recognize AI as an assistant rather than a standalone solution. Some AI users tend to overly rely on it without applying critical thinking and human judgment, leading to subpar results. When used appropriately, AI can greatly enhance the evaluation process by automating tasks, analyzing large volumes of data, and providing valuable insights. It can assist evaluators in data collection, organization, analysis, and visualization, saving time and improving efficiency. AI's capabilities in text analysis and predictive analytics enable evaluators to uncover patterns, sentiments, and trends, supporting more accurate recommendations and decision-making. Nevertheless, it is crucial for evaluators to exercise caution and maintain a balanced approach. Human expertise, critical thinking, and contextual understanding are still vital in interpreting AI-generated insights and ensuring their validity. Evaluators must filter and validate AI-generated outputs, considering the limitations and potential biases of the algorithms.
Yemen
Mohammed Al-Mussaabi
Posted on 24/10/2025
The Crisis of Purpose:
The most significant barrier is the perception of evaluation itself. For many organizations, evaluation has regrettably become an ad hoc exercise in compliance rather than a genuine opportunity for learning and accountability. This fundamental misclassification dictates the communication strategy, leading to reports that are designed to satisfy a funding requirement rather than to inform and engage a diverse audience. When the primary goal is compliance, the communication effort is minimal, often defaulting to a simple upload to an obscure section of a website.
The Visibility Paradox:
The practice of merely sharing evaluation reports through organizational websites is a prime example of this compliance-driven mindset. Organizations rarely follow up by checking their logs and analyzing view counts, which is a missed opportunity for accountability and learning about their audience. The reasons for low engagement are multi-faceted and include:
•Language and Accessibility: Reports often use highly technical jargon and are only available in a single language, immediately alienating key local stakeholders.
•Lack of Awareness: Without a dedicated, proactive communication strategy, most stakeholders—especially those outside the immediate organizational circle—remain unaware that the report even exists.
•The "Boring Report" Syndrome: As noted, reports are often boring to read. Their length, dense text, and academic structure are designed for a specialized audience.
The Solution: Transforming Reports into Engaging Products
To overcome the "boring report" syndrome and increase the utility of evaluation findings, organizations must embrace a multi-product communication strategy. Instead of relying solely on the lengthy report, they should invest in creating short, accessible products that cater to diverse communication habits. This includes:
•Short Clips/Videos: Utilizing simple animation or interviews with project participants to convey key findings and recommendations in under two minutes.
•Infographics and Data Visualizations: Transforming complex data tables into easily digestible visual summaries for social media and policy briefs.
•Blog Posts and Articles: Creating narrative-driven content that highlights the human impact and actionable recommendations, suitable for wider press and partner newsletters.
These products are not substitutes for the full report but act as gateways, offering people an easy glimpse of the report's value and encouraging deeper engagement.