Page 84 - AERC Strategic Plan 2 July2020

THE AERC 2020–2025 STRATEGIC PLAN

Evaluation is a discontinuous function that involves value judgements about
performance with reference to some pre-determined evaluation criteria. The data
required for an evaluation are typically collected through the use of research methods,
which may be qualitative and/or quantitative in nature. Evaluation generates knowledge
and understanding that is specific to a programme. The questions informing evaluation
depend on the field of investigation, i.e. they arise from the evaluation itself and the
needs of stakeholders.

Two types of evaluation are of importance to the AERC:

» AERC-wide strategic evaluation: assessing the overall merit of the AERC and
its work, for example, in terms of the AERC’s effectiveness in achieving targeted
outcomes; in providing meaningful contributions; and in triggering (or helping to
trigger) larger systemic changes in economic policy related areas; and

» Activity-level evaluation: assessing the merit of a programme (or cluster of
programmatic activities), for example in terms of its effectiveness in contributing
to achieving AERC’s intended outcomes.

Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

Drawing on the above definitions, Table A4 below further defines each of the four
components of the MEF and articulates the key evaluation/monitoring questions that are
relevant to each.

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