The GE / HR responsive evaluation is completed; with an acceptable final report in hand – what now? Evaluation is not an end in itself, but facilitates learning, accountability and decision making. A quality GE / HR responsive evaluation report does not guarantee its use.
This chapter provides guidance on the utilization and follow up of evaluations. There is a section on dissemination of the evaluation, using evaluation results and one on the management response & follow up. It is the manager’s responsibility to ensure evaluation utilization and, just as stakeholder involvement was critical to planning and conducting an evaluation, it is just as important to the use of evaluation results.
The manager needs to consider and use audience appropriate means of sharing the evaluation results, in order for stakeholders to understand and participate in plans to action recommendations. The manager is responsible for leading the process for action on programme-specific recommendations, and to use lessons learned (reported in the evaluation) for future programme design and development. For accountability purposes, the manager is responsible, in collaboration with stakeholders, for the preparation of the management response and for ensuring commitments in the management response are actually undertaken.
Tip: The completion of the evaluation, is the beginning for steps which make evaluation truly meaningful – its use. Work with stakeholders, especially the reference group to make the evaluation beneficial.
