What is participatory evaluation?

Participatory evaluation is an approach that actively engages stakeholders in the evaluation process. This method emphasizes collaboration, where individuals who are affected by or have a vested interest in the program or project being evaluated are involved in various stages of the evaluation, from planning and design to data collection and analysis. The objective of participatory evaluation is to ensure that the perspectives, needs, and insights of stakeholders are incorporated, which enhances the relevance and effectiveness of the evaluation findings. By involving participants closely, this approach fosters ownership of the evaluation process and often leads to more actionable and contextually appropriate recommendations.

In contrast, other approaches that do not engage stakeholders may limit the insights gained from the evaluation, making the findings less applicable or meaningful.