1. Ethical implications of evaluations limited
by time, talent and money: lessons from a leader’s challenges in eastern DRC
Ramya Ramanath, Ph.D.
& Sara Lepro
DePaul University, Chicago
American Evaluation Association Conference
October 18, 2013

2. Evaluation and ethics
International NGOs (INGOs) explicitly acknowledge that values of empowerment, improved quality of life, and community well-being underpin their practice. Evaluation is a means to test these claims.

3. Ethical implications of under-resourced evaluations
Provide information about the effects of programming
Identify potential harms
Promote equity
Provide a voice to all stakeholders

4. Research questions
What are the ethical challenges encountered in evaluating programs funded by young US-based INGOs?
What are the ethical implications of such evaluations on the programs that these INGOs fund?

5. Women’s Resource Fund, 2006
Health, education and economic opportunities
Strategic partnership with local leaders in developing countries to support their outcome-based projects.

6. March, 2011: Evaluation Time
Three days in eastern DRC; 3-4 hours in the project site.
Talent
Poor translator; unsatisfactory field report.
Money
High costs of travel and accommodations.

7. A video clip on
CBO account of INGO’s $2,000

8. So what? Resource constraints plague all types of evaluation.
What is interesting and informative, however, are: (a) how decisions are made in light of these challenges and the ethical implications that result from these decisions for the program; and (b) the measures that may be put in place to help minimize the ethical challenges facing evaluators working under resource constraints.

9. So what?
Capacity to conduct an ethical evaluation is inextricably tied to the capacity for program planning and development.
The INGO’s struggles are indicative of its programmatic challenges.
A focus on ethical conduct of evaluation helps identify challenges and the future conduct of its program.

10. Table 1: actions to minimize ethical implications

11. Conclusions
Widely accepted principles provide a necessary starting point for leaders of young, resource-challenged INGOs.
This research moves a step forward to explore how challenges in evaluation affect the actual conduct of the program and its future operations.
These ethical implications are difficult to minimize but they should not be considered lightly.