Looking Through The Feminist Lens: Redefining Programme Evaluation

Evaluation of development programmes is the process of professional assessment of a programme, often guided by evaluative thinking, to arrive at a judgement about its value. Programme evaluations usually adopt an inclusive development approach rather than a transformative approach. Feminist evaluation is a fresh approach that identifies a wide range of stakeholders, and engages the larger community, to encourage the programme to challenge social norms that perpetuate gender inequalities. Gender transformative change cannot happen through the actions of one group alone.
 
Should development programme evaluations adopt a lens of intersectionality? Are there more comprehensive ways to evaluate gender empowerment programmes? What is feminist evaluation and how is it different from a women-in-development approach? Who should be the focal point in these evaluations and which parameters should be evaluated?
 
Our speakers are scholars in gender and development and have collaborated extensively to identify holistic ways for impact assessment of gender equality programmes. They have recently co-edited a book titled "Recognizing Connectedness: The Practice of Feminist Evaluation" which assimilates a diverse set of scholarly work questioning gender-blind practices in programme evaluation. The speakers will talk about the book, and explain the concept and practice of feminist evaluation.