Stage 5 - Developing an action plan

This stage of an empwerment evaluation often will happen as a separate workshop at a later date or alternatively as a second half to the rest of the workshop, depending on the needs and make-up of the project. Using the actions and scoring developed so far as the basis the fifth stage aims to identify actions to address the issues coming out of the workshop and what actions are needed to a) to evaluate performance in future and b) plan for future actions. By using the scoring from the previous stages a continuity is created into the future. For each of the criteria identified further goals are identified, actions and strategies to deliver the goals and evaluation evidence to verify success. These then form the basis of either work within the project or programme or for future programmes of action. In the case of the latter this approach is particularly important in securing sustainability for programmes, creating a basis and argument – in terms of project and partnership development – for future fundraising bids or mainstreaming.

The stages of an evaluation workshop

East Oxford Action (EOA) , has been carrying out empowerment evaluations for internal projects and for clients for the last three years. During this time we have adapted the approach to the circumstances of British regeneration programmes and project delivery. A team of empowerment evaluators drawn from groups and individuals who have worked with East Oxford Action has been trained.

At East Oxford Action we break the process down into five stages (expanded from Fetterman's three) :

• The first stage of an empowerment evaluation is to establish the aim of the project

• The second stage is to agree criteria for success

• The third stage is to score current performance against the criteria

• The fourth stage is a facilitated discussion around the scoring on the criteria, to get beneath the skin of the scoring

• The fifth stage is to identify actions to address the issues coming out of the workshop and to agree what actions are needed to a) address the issues and b) to evaluate performance.

Coming out of the evaluation workshop therefore are

• Agreement on project aim, criteria for success, ways of measuring success

• Agreement on priorities for future action in the project and evaluation

• A written record of the evaluation workshop.

Introduction to Empowerment Evaluation

Empowerment evaluation is arguably a form of participatory evaluation developed by David M. Fetterman of Stanford University and now used extensively (particularly in the USA) to evaluate projects and programmes. Like participatory evaluation “Empowerment evaluation has an unambiguous value orientation -- it is designed to help people help themselves and improve their programs using a form of self-evaluation and reflection “ Fetterman, 2001.

Empowerment evaluation is structured around a workshop. The workshop brings together stakeholders—all those interested in the project including the beneficiaries and lower level staff as well as the managers and funders. In an ideal world the evaluation will start at the beginning of the project with subsequent workshops held at the mid-term and end.

Fetterman identifies three steps in an empowerment evaluation:

“ a) developing a mission,vision or unifying purpose, b) taking stock or determining where the programme stands, including strengths and weaknesses; and c) planning for the future by establishing goals and helping participants determine their own strategies to accomplish goals and objectives.” Fetterman, 2001

Extract from paper Zoe Brooks 2007