November 2012

Evaluation Insights #7: Preventing HIV

Spending on the international response to HIV rose dramatically from $300 million in 1996 to more than $15 billion in 2009 (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2010). But, in its 2011 World AIDS Day report, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) raised concerns that the current economic crisis and dwindling international resources had reduced financing available for the AIDS response. UNAIDS argued that it was of critical importance to ensure resources are invested wisely to maximise return and achieve value for money. To do this, evidence is needed regarding effective and efficient ways to spend funds available to HIV responses.

Perspectives d'evaluation #7: Prevention du HIV/sida

 
July 2012

Evaluation Insights #6: Rural Water and Sanitation

Global efforts in the water sector have had mixed results. Some efforts in rural water and sanitation have lacked a clear focus on learning and results – including understanding what works and why, in what contexts, and how the best impacts can be achieved with resources invested. To remedy this, dozens of evaluations have been carried out. To add to this evidence base, the Dutch government, working with its development partners, evaluated the impact of programmes in five countries. This note summarises the main findings of the evaluations and describes emerging lessons.

Version française: L'eau et l'assainissement en milieu rural

January 2012

 

Evaluation Insights #5: Improving Food Security

 

The renewed interest in food security has translated to an urgent need to understand what interventions are most effective in supporting food security.
To support this process, a systematic review was commissioned, focusing on the impacts of programmes aimed at increasing food production, developing value chains for food products, reforming markets and improving land security.This note summarises the key findings from the systematic review.

 

December 2011

 

Evaluation Insights #4: Effective institutions and good governance for development

This brief synthesises the progress made in governance and institutional reform based on four major international studies, covering a total of 22 countries. The following areas have been selected for current relevance to policymakers: improving accountability and transparency; efforts to tackle corruption; centre of government and public financial management reforms; and results management in governance. What progress has there been so far and what still needs to be done?

 

 

November 2011

 

Evaluation Insights #3: Mainstreaming gender equality

 

Over the years, many commitments have been made to put gender equality at the core of development work. And yet, a recent review of experiences shows that gender equality is not yet integrated into the operations and organisational cultures of development organisations. Meeting this challenge will require a significant cultural change – change that can only be achieved with more sustained action. 

 

 

October 2011

Evaluation Insights #2: Assessing the impacts of budget support

This Evaluation Insights note provides an overview of the main findings and conclusions from three recent joint evaluations in Mali, Tunisia and Zambia, testing a jointly developed methodology for evaluating budget support. 

June 2011

Evaluation Insights #1: Haiti Earthquake Response

This quick guide distils key findings and emerging lessons from a selection of available evaluations of the response to Haiti’s earthquake in January 2010.