Environmental Evaluation in the International Context Re-considering the role of evaluation Alain Fréchette, Consultant Environmental Evaluation Network October 1 st, 2010 © Universalia

Signs of an Emerging Global Crisis Overexploitation of the world’s natural resources Population growth Extensive land-use/land-cover change Alarming pace of ecosystem degradation Accelerating loss of biological diversity Climate changing faster than predicted Globalization of pollutants

Multiple Sources of Failure Institutional Interplay –Development vs. the environment Science / policy disconnect –Conservation –Natural resource management Absence of empirically grounded theories –Blue prints / panaceas / institutional monocropping Build it and they will come –Belief in our models

Responses from Int. Dev. Community Recognition of the environment Procedural obligation 1,2 –A cross-cutting issue –Standardized environmental assessments Aid effectiveness and accountability 3,4 –Value for money –Results –Quasi-experimental designs –Formative/summative of evaluation 1. OECD DAC Network on Development Evaluation (2010) Study of Network Members; 2. USAID (2009) Trends in International Development Evaluation; 3. Accra Agenda for Action (2008); 4. Paris Declaration (2005)

Consequences? Donor-driven evaluation agendas Inadequate attention to complexity –Linear causal relationships –Unvalidate assumptions / hypotheses « End of pipe » solutions’ thinking –Disconnect - planning & evaluation –Disconnect - theory & practice –Lack of adaptive inquiry (monitoring & learning ) Fortunately, things are changing… 12/4/2015© Universalia5

Example: 2008 IUCN World Conservation Congress Purpose –Share experiences, lessons learned and set the global conservation agenda Results of the Evaluation –Successful (TORs) –Recommendations based on normative function of Congress as a platform for global collective action on conservation and the environment –Profound reorganization of the purpose, process and function of WCC.

2008 IUCN World Conservation Congress Evaluation process (IUCN) –Cradle-to-cradle –Evaluative culture Buy-in at all levels Evaluation champions –Useful data Learning-capture Debriefing sessions Feedback to staff, senior management and Council –Ongoing support to the consultant –Management Response and Action Plan 12/4/2015© Universalia7

2008 IUCN World Conservation Congress Evaluation process (Universalia) –Trust-building Establish confidence in our approach –Early discussion of emerging findings and issues –Confront evidence to normative assumptions IUCN’s mission and vision Literature –Obtain senior management buy-in Participatory analysis Recommendations testing 12/4/2015© Universalia8

Reconsidering the Role of Evaluation? Role of positive/normative inquiry? –How far can we push? Role of trust? Cradle to cradle realistic? –Assess specific contribution –Design, plan & implement better interventions Role of Science? –Relationship between Science and evaluative inquiry? Focusing on the source? –Organizational vs. programme evaluation Building an evaluative culture? –Learning from complex adaptive systems 12/4/2015© Universalia9

Thank You! “The fact that evaluation is not a completely defined field, makes it one of the most exciting to work in at the moment, both in terms of richness of discourse and opportunities to innovate” Alex Moiseev, Senior Programme Officer on Global Programme Team, IUCN Special thanks to Dr. Charles Lusthaus, Universalia Mr. Alex Moiseev, IUCN