Long Term Perspectives in Evaluation is the first book to advocate the virtues of a long-term perspective for policy evaluation as well as to show how evaluations can take a longer time perspective than they usually do. To get there, it is necessary to understand the decision-making context of evaluations and study the obstacles and the resistance toward long-term perspectives – as knowledge of that will lay the ground for more effective advocacy. The book is divided into three parts: the first section examines different aspects of methodology and methods. In the next section, authors present case studies of long-term evaluations, examine their own experiences of such evaluations and discuss difficulties, challenges and lessons learned. Cases discussed include: education sector reforms in Sweden, local governance reforms in Denmark, policy interventions in Southern Italy and Brazil, and Paris Declaration Principles of aid effectiveness such as Swedish aid to Tanzania, Vietnam, Laos and Sri Lanka. Finally, the third section sees the authors turn to a set of contextual issues and concluding remarks. Bringing together a rich collection of insights and a renowned group of experts, Long Term Perspectives in Evaluation: Increasing Relevance and Utility, constitutes a significant landmark in the field.

The guidance presented in this book provides step-by-step guidance on the core steps in planning, carrying out and learning from evaluation, as well as some basic principles on programme design and management.

"The history, development, and future directions of evaluation in various European and Asian countries are described and examined. Chapter topics include international organizations or associations that influence this global direction."--Business Horizon Evaluation of public policy has changed considerably in the past decade. This is especially true in Europe, where evaluation is now an institutional part of public sector governance, but it is also characteristic of other parts of the world. The International Atlas of Evaluation describes individual country as well as global trends and developments in the application and impact of evaluation. It also explains underlying forces affecting the contour of evaluation in different national contexts and their consequences for the diffusion of evaluation. The International Atlas of Evaluation describes and examines the history development and future directions of evaluation in twenty-two countries: Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It includes chapters on international organizations or associations that heavily influence the global direction of evaluation-the European Union, the World Bank, and Development Assistance Evaluation. The volume includes a historical overview of supply and demand in relation to evaluation; shifts in institutional settings; university programs and other sources of training; descriptions of its applications in the executive and legislative branches of government; and observations on the status and future of national systems of evaluation. The Atlas explores whether those countries where evaluation "took off" some years ago are expanding its use, or whether its development has stabilized or even decreased. It explores factors supporting the development of evaluation in a number of developing countries. This volume in the Comparative Policy Analysis series is an essential tool for policy makers, government officials, and scholars interested in the contemporary status of evaluation. Jan-Eric Furubo is head of the Secretariat for Strategic Analyses in the National Audit Office in Sweden. Ray C. Rist is a senior evaluation officer with the Operations Evaluation Department of the World Bank. He has held senior positions in both the legislative and executive branches of the United States government as well as teaching positions at Cornell University, The John Hopkins University, and George Washington University. Rolf Sandahl is an expert in evaluation at the National Financial Management Authority in Sweden, and author of many books and articles in the area of policy instruments, results analysis, and management by results.

Knowledge and rigorous evidence around the role of external development partners in situations of conflict and fragility is still lacking. There is little accountability for the billions in aid being spent in places like Afghanistan, Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This book analyses evaluation theory and practice in order to help fill this knowledge gap and advocates a realistic and rigorous approach to evaluating international engagement. Through a series of case studies, this book highlights both the promise, and potential pitfalls, of taking a more evaluative approach to understanding aid in conflict regions. These illustrate the methodological and analytical approach taken by researchers working to understand the results and effectiveness of conflict prevention and peacebuilding support. While well-grounded in current theoretical and methodological debates, the book provides valuable practical information by examining how and why different choices were made in the context of each evaluation. The book shows what future steps may be envisaged to further strengthen evaluations of support for conflict prevention and peacebuilding. The analysis draws on a wealth of perspectives and voices to provide researchers and students in development studies and conflict and peace studies as well as development evaluators with a deep and broad understanding of evaluation methods and approaches.

This book reviews development co-operation efforts of Norway over the past five years. It examines both policy and implementation and takes an integrated, system-wide perspective on Norway's development co-operation and humanitarian assistance activities.