Evaluating ESD in RCEs: The Start-up Tools

Evaluation Documentation of RCE development: constitutive evaluation Inquiry into the RCE’s successes, coordination and collaborative learning: appreciative and developmental evaluation Value creation assessment of the RCE’s overall work

Goals of RCE Evaluation Collectively Learn through an appreciative review of the RCE documented in the evaluation report Sustainability improve transformative learning and sustainability recorded as case study evidence of activities Strengthen RCE As individual RCEs and in the RCE network reflected in the capacity development training strategy

Stages in RCE Evaluation Preparation Stakeholders receive information on RCE activities Relevant data is collected from stakeholders and partners Evaluation Evaluation steps Results are recorded and discussed Follow ups agreed Follow up Sharing of evaluation records with participants and stakeholders Follow ups are included in the RCE Action Plan

Discussion Focus Expected learning Expected outcome Step 1 Step 2 Step 1 – Constitutive evaluation of the RCE Core elements: governance, network, RCE strategy, activities Understanding of RCE evolution Participants discuss how to improve RCE programmes Step 2 – Appreciative review of activities and impact RCE’s activities and their results Better understanding of outcomes of RCE activities Ideas for continuation of promising projects and collaborations Step 3 – Developmental review of RCE activities and impact Sustainability of RCE’s activities and their contribution to sustainability of the region Understanding of sustainability of RCE’s activities and their added value to the region Better use of RCE resources and increased value of activities Step 4 – Developmental review of learning, impact and strategy RCE focus areas, partnerships, capacity Co-production of new knowledge to better steer sustainable ways of being Collaborative actions Step 5 – Appreciative / developmental review of networking Networking with the RCE Service Centre, other RCEs, and networks Understanding of how external network engagement supports the work of the RCE partnership Collaborations with other RCEs and RCE Service Centre Step 6 – Review of value creation Open discussion, left-over areas not covered in steps 1-5 Understanding of how value added by the RCE is appreciated Agreement on use of data and follow-up-plan of actions Step 1 Step 2 Step 4 Step 3 Step 5 Step 6

Step 1 – Constitutive evaluation of the RCE Core elements: governance, network, RCE strategy, activities Understanding of RCE evolution Participants discuss how to improve RCE programmes The RCE Journey How did the RCE evolve? How has membership changed? What are the ESD initiatives? How does the RCE address local issues? What can be done to improve the RCE work and how?

Step 2 – Appreciative review of activities and impact RCE activities and their results Better understanding of outcomes of RCE activities Ideas for continuation of promising projects and collaborations Activities and Impact How has the portfolio of RCE activities evolved? What were the most successful activities and why? Give examples of how successful collaboration produced these impacts? How can initiatives be up-scaled and mainstreamed? How could the RCE do better? in the RCE (inward focus) in the region (outward focus)

Step 3 – Developmental review of RCE’s activities and impact Sustainability of RCE’s activities and their contribution to sustainability in the region? Understanding sustainability of RCE’s activities and their added value to the region Better use of RCE resources and increased value of activities Transformation and Sustainability What flagship initiatives reflect the success of the RCE? For these initiatives, what is the scale of a) knowledge and b) practice transformation over a period of 12/24/36 months What resources and governance allowed for success? What, besides funding, can be done to overcome barriers and sustain the work of the RCE?

Step 4 – Developmental review of learning, impact and strategy RCE focus areas, partnerships, capacity Co-production of new knowledge to better steer sustainable ways of being Collaborative actions Strategic Areas and Links What strategic focus areas, partnerships, activities have been successful? What can be done to improve learning and effectiveness (resourcing, partnerships, and scale)? How can existing linkages and processes be strengthened? What new strategic links and capacity development could be explored?

Step 5 – Appreciative / developmental review of networking Networking with the Service Centre, other RCEs, and networks Understanding of how external network engagement supports the work of the RCE partnership Collaborations with other RCEs and the Service Centre Global RCE Service Centre What are the benefits of acknowledgement? How is the RCE interacting with the Service Centre? How is the RCE working with other RCEs and what are the successes and challenges? How was participation in global and regional RCE conferences and follow-up activities? How could regional and global RCE activities be improved to strengthen the RCE work?

Step 6 – Review of value creation Open discussion, left-over areas not covered in steps 1-5 Understanding of how value added by the RCE is appreciated? Agreement on use of data and follow-up plan of actions Value Creation Assessment What were the most meaningful RCE activities discussed? What potential values is each activity producing? What difference has this made for the RCE in terms of what matters in each project? What new understandings of what produces measurable value have become evident?