The purpose of the developmental evaluation approach is to enhance the probability that local partnerships will be successful and to support research while advancing theories and practices of innovation and change.

Developmental Evaluation Approach

The developmental approach highlights overlapping phases of planning, acting, and evaluating the program under review. This reflects the intent to:

• support real-time adaptation in the design and implementation of contextually relevant innovations in order to meet the needs of vulnerable populations;
• ensure ongoing knowledge mobilization among all aspects of the program of research; and
• ensure that capacity development is supported to achieve program objectives.

These phases are, in practice, iterative and interactive components of an evaluative process that supports the development of interventions. At the end of a developmental evaluation, the intent is to have developed something that can be used by program stakeholders.

Key characteristics of a developmental evaluation include:

• Embedding an evaluation role within the program (rather than having an external evaluator) who maintains independent critical thinking;
• Designing the evaluation to support real-time learning and decision making about what to add, change, discontinue, or further develop;
• Ensuring that development and evaluation are mutually reinforcing;
• Ensuring that data collection, analysis, and implementation are ongoing; and
• Producing context-specific understandings to inform implementation.

Applying the developmental evaluation approach requires concurrent focus on providing timely feedback and advice based on evaluation findings, which can be applied to inform:

• Project development
  • Assisting those who are designing and implementing the innovations in meeting their objectives, including strategies for capturing progress and outcomes.
• Capacity development
  • Helping to build capacities in core areas (i.e., evaluation, implementation, partnerships, and community development)
• Program development
  • Mobilizing knowledge generated across the program of research to ensure that program components inform one another (i.e., evidence from projects informs partnership development and vice versa)