An evaluation is an assessment of a project to determine its impact and effectiveness. There are two main types of evaluations: formative and summative. Formative evaluations are ongoing evaluations during your project that may result in changes during its lifespan. Summative evaluations take place after the project’s completion and measure the project’s success.
Before beginning an evaluation, identify a specific change that your project is seeking. Evaluating the impact of your program may refer back to changes that were also monitored throughout the project, such as changes in attitudes, behaviors and relationships.
To plan an evaluation for your P/CVE project, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation (CGCC) suggests a series of steps:
These steps are further explained in the context of P/CVE programming in this resource.
Hedayah describes the types of evaluations that can be used for a P/CVE project, as shown in the table below.
Evaluation methods do not necessarily focus on whether the specific objective has been achieved but take into account a broader spectrum of variables. The diverse evaluation methods are not exclusive of one another and the same result (output/outcome/input) might be relevant for different methods.
| Line of sight evaluation to evaluate if projects are aligned with CVE program outcomes and capabilities. In this type of evaluation, the aim is to measure and evaluate the design and effort of the program itself. Some key indicators might be: |
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| Project effectiveness evaluation to evaluate how projects meet their stated objectives. In this case, the measurement and evaluation is of performance of the program or project. Some key indicators might be: |
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| Program benefit evaluation to evaluate if program outcomes result in desired benefits. Some key indicators might be: |
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| Outcomes evaluation to evaluate if projects contribute to program outcomes, and measure the effect of the program on the recipients. Some key indicators might be: |
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| Program impact evaluation to evaluate if program benefits help realize the vision. Some key indicators might be: |
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