A site visit to the Brazilian Cerrado and Pantanal region in SW Brazil to gain first-hand knowledge of the context for work by Conservation International under the USAID Global Conservation Program was part of the evaluation of that program.
Evaluations that objectively review the performance of a program or project to determine the degree to which it achieved its planned objectives are an important tool for adaptive learning. Effective evaluations require the cooperation and participation of the designers, funders, and implementers of the program or project being evaluated, but each of these groups has sensitivities regarding project performance.
Transparent evaluation methodologies and patient trust-building among all participants in evaluations is a cornerstone of our evaluations. Fortunately, almost no program fails completely – or succeeds completely. There is always more to learn, and the systems we try to influence are dynamic in any case.
Constructive communication of evaluation findings helps everyone move forward with more effective design of future actions. Some examples of past evaluations, see:
• GCP Evaluation
• Colombia CLP Final Report
