Challenging the international peacebuilding evaluation discourse with qualitative methodologies.

Area of Science:

• Peace and Conflict Studies
• International Relations
• Sociology

Background:

• Current monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of international peacebuilding often uses managerial approaches.
• These managerial approaches frequently fail to capture the nuanced complexities of war, peace, and transitional periods.
• There is a recognized need for more sophisticated evaluation methodologies in peacebuilding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the wider adoption of qualitative approaches in peacebuilding evaluation.
• To introduce ethnographic vignettes as a method for illustrating post-conflict complexities.
• To enhance the meaningfulness of evaluation discourse for organizational learning and sustainable peacebuilding.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research methodologies.
• Application of ethnographic vignettes to depict real-world peacebuilding scenarios.
• Analysis of the personal dimensions and lifestyles of international peacebuilders.

Main Results:

• Managerial evaluation approaches are insufficient for understanding complex peacebuilding environments.
• Qualitative methods, such as ethnographic vignettes, offer deeper insights into post-conflict situations.
• Understanding the human element of peacebuilding is crucial for effective evaluation and practice.

Conclusions:

• Organizations should integrate qualitative approaches, including ethnography, into peacebuilding M&E.
• A focus on the personal and lived experiences of peacebuilders enriches evaluation.
• Enhanced evaluation methods are vital for fostering organizational learning and achieving sustainable peace.