What does "utilization-focused evaluation" emphasize?

Utilization-focused evaluation emphasizes the importance of conducting evaluations that are genuinely useful for stakeholders. This approach prioritizes the needs and interests of those who will be using the evaluation results, ensuring that the findings are relevant, applicable, and actionable. It is centered around engaging stakeholders throughout the evaluation process, which helps to shape the evaluation questions and methodologies based on what will be most helpful to them.

This focus on utility encourages evaluators to think critically about how their work impacts decision-making and the specific contexts in which the evaluations will be used. By doing so, utilization-focused evaluation aims to enhance the likelihood that evaluation findings will lead to meaningful improvements and informed decisions, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of programs or interventions being evaluated.