1. Section 3. Carrying out VOPE work.
Information about the activities that make VOPEs uniquely different from other organizations are presented in this section.
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2. How active is your VOPE?
Read the questions and click on YES to navigate to additional content.
Does you VOPE want to host conferences, workshops and other events?
Does your VOPE plan to make online evaluation capacity
building resources available?
Does your VOPE plan to do advocacy?
Does you VOPE plan to produce a newsletter, journal?
Is you VOPE developing standards and guidelines?
Does your VOPE plan to bestow evaluation awards?
Does your VOPE want to improve regional and
international connections?
Do you want to make statements on issues of
importance in evaluation?
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
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3. 3.1 Hosting Conferences, Workshops and Other Events
It is quite common for VOPEs to have a capacity building or advocacy focus in their mission, which would require that they occasionally host evaluation events such as conferences, workshops and seminars.
The advent of online webinar facilities, have made it possible to host some of the capacity building events in an online space, but a good old fashioned face-to-face get together is often extremely valuable for building the credibility of your VOPE.
Conferences, workshops and seminars are often also a useful way for an association to build their financial resources – evaluation professionals often do not mind paying for professional development opportunities of high quality.
When you are planning your event, take into consideration why you are hosting it, whom you are targeting, what the focus will be, and when it will take place.
A taste of useful resources
Go to online toolkit resources

4. These
great
resources
are
available in
the
Toolkit!

5. 3.2 Making Online Evaluation Capacity Building Resources Available
One strategy for evaluation capacity building that some VOPEs pursue is making information resources about evaluation available to their membership. Owing to the distributed nature of a VOPE’s membership, it is usually done through compiling an online repository of evaluation material such as published and unpublished evaluation reports, conference proceedings, journal articles, evaluation guides and standards, research about evaluation, summaries of evaluation approaches, donors’ or governments’ evaluation guides and many more. Such an online repository may be accessible via the website to all visitors, or may be accessible to members only.
A taste of useful resources
Go to online toolkit resources

6. These
great
resources
are
available in
the
Toolkit!

7. 3.3 Doing Advocacy http://www.mymande.org/evalpartners/advocacytoolkit
This section introduces the EvalPartners Advocacy toolkit that VOPEs could use to create support for evaluation in their context. 
As the EvalPartners Advocacy toolkit indicates, VOPEs have a particular role to play in strengthening National Evaluation Systems. 
A taste of useful resources
Go to online toolkit resources

9. 3.4 Publications and Newsletters
This section offers some suggestions on the ways in which a VOPE can communicate with members, share knowledge and increase the credibility of the VOPE using publications and a newsletter. Particular examples of VOPE newsletters and journals are described in more detail. Start with a Communication Strategy Newsletters or Bulletins Evaluation Journals Establishing a Journal Making an Existing Journal Available to member
A taste of useful resources
Go to online toolkit resources

10. These
great
resources
are
available in
the
Toolkit!

11. 3.5 Develop guidelines and standards
Some VOPEs invest resources into the development of guidelines and standards which can help influence those involved in evaluation to deliver good quality work.
A guideline or standard may be useful in helping to improve the understanding of what a quality evaluation looks like, or may help to clarify the process for a good evaluation. In some instances, a standard may also provide the basis for improving the professional status of evaluators in your VOPE.
A range of examples of standards and guidelines are included in the resources section.
A taste of useful resources
Go to online toolkit resources

12. These
great
resources
are
available in
the
Toolkit!

13. 3.6 Bestowing Evaluation Award
Evaluation associations can influence their members to conduct good quality work by recognizing good work through awards. 
Awards may be awarded to individuals; teams; promising students; emerging evaluators; seasoned evaluators, or to recognize a good evaluation publication.
In fact, a VOPE may choose to implement an award to promote any aspect of its vision and mission
A taste of useful resources
Go to online toolkit resources

14. These
great
resources
are
available in
the
Toolkit!

15. 3.7 Connecting Regionally and Internationally
A VOPE can network and collaborate with other VOPEs in many different ways, for example:
Cross-publicise events and opportunities among members. Host Joint Events
 A VOPE may invite delegates from other VOPEs to its evaluation conference, with a view to sharing the learning.
 Two or more VOPEs may collaborate on producing a joint publication – The African Evaluation Association and the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association, for example, collaborated on launching the African Evaluation Journal 
Share and exchange resources and know-how on joint topics of interest such as website development or developing a constitution. This may be done informally or through a funded mechanism, such as the EvalPartners peer-to-peer grants. 
 Consider making joint membership available if members of one organization are likely to benefit from / work in the area also covered by the other VOPE.
A taste of useful resources
Go to online toolkit resources

16. Resources
These
great
resources
are
available in
the
Toolkit!

17. 3.8 Making Statements on Issues of Importance in Evaluation
This section suggests that VOPEs look for opportunities to contribute to the public debate about issues affecting evaluation, through making statements on issues of importance.
A VOPE may choose to make an official statement, either in support of an initiative or voicing concern, after canvassing its members to establish their feelings on the matter. It is important that members are given an opportunity to input into the process of developing the statement, vote on the acceptance of the statement, and that the statement is officially adopted and communicated on behalf of the membership.
A taste of useful resources
Go to online toolkit resources

18. Resources
These
great
resources
are
available in
the
Toolkit!