Evaluating NGOs in international water development: a case study of H2O 4 ALL

Abstract

With the introduction of the Millennium and Sustainable Development Goals, the level of sophistication required to measure the impact of international development has grown. However, evidence suggests that international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been slow to invest in development evaluation; instead of using evidence-based tools to enhance performance, such as logic models or benchmarks, NGOs engage in activities to demonstrate their good work (e.g., report writing, monitoring progress). In light of the current biophysical, socioeconomic, political, and human challenges that make the water-health nexus a “wicked problem,” this thesis addresses the knowledge gap in our understanding of factors that influence the measurable success of an NGO in water-based development. Using a case study design, evaluation frameworks were applied in the context of international water development. An evaluability assessment and process evaluation of the case study informed the creation of low cost evaluation tools that can be adapted and applied to other small NGOs with little or no formal evaluation training. By documenting the evaluation experience, facilitators and barriers to conducting an evaluation and embedding evaluative thinking in an NGO were also identified. As a whole, this thesis aimed to counteract the prioritization of individual projects with short-term impact. Findings support the need for theoretically grounded evaluations at the organizational level in order to address the complexity of global water needs, the diversity of individuals who lack access, civil society organizations and the constraints under which they work, and the work that remains to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6: “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.”