Evaluation and system reform
Program overview:
System reform is complex, long-term, and involves multiple stakeholders. Traditional evaluation methods, which often focus on short-term outcomes and linear cause-effect relationships, are often not well suited to informing or evaluating system change.
The George Institute’s Evaluation and System Reform Program focuses on furthering the role of evaluation in system reform in recognition of the power of evaluative data to contribute to social change - this has implications for what is evaluated and how evaluations are conducted. There is an implicit equity agenda – recognising that systems need to reform to benefit those who need them most.
We are concerned with:
- Conducting ‘mission critical’ evaluations, which in practice means scale, reach and equity
- Using participatory approaches at all stages, since this increases the potential of evaluation findings being relevant and used
- Building regular and timely cycles of feedback to implementers and policy makers on interim outcomes for continuous improvement and reflection
- Using and integrating qualitative and quantitative methods, harnessing the power of both
- Paying attention to context
- Collaborating with stakeholders including government and non-governmental organisations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and other people experiencing marginalisation in systems and processes.
