~AEA Public Library

Slide deck for a panel session "Shifting the balance of power: Evaluating a foundation’s effort to build local advocacy capacity in sub-Saharan Africa"

Abstract

Foundations that are supporting local ownership of international development solutions need to learn about structures and practices that will drive sustainable action. In this session we discussed related efforts of the Hewlett Foundation and its evaluation partner, the Aspen Institute’s Aspen Planning and Evaluation Program. Presented from the perspectives of the foundation, evaluators and grantees, the session focused on:

• Design and use of monitoring, evaluation, and feedback loops to help a foundation and its grantees learn about whether a new advocacy strategy is working;
• Evaluation that embodies the principles and practices of mutual accountability, locally-driven advocacy capacity development and advocacy objectives; and
• Evaluation to help funders and international non-governmental organizations learn about whether the support they provide adds value to local organizations in East and West Africa.

Presenters/Contributors

Helena Choi, (former) Hewlett Foundation

David Devlin-Foltz, Aspen Institute Aspen Planning and Evaluation Program

Carlisle Levine, BLE Solutions, LLC

Rhonda Schlangen, Rhonda Schlangen Consulting, LLC

Susan Wood, International Women’s Health Coalition