Evaluating the integration of strategic priorities within a complex research-for-development funding program

Area of Science:

• Program Evaluation
• Complexity Theory
• Development Studies

Background:

• Evaluating complex research-for-development programs presents unique challenges.
• Traditional evaluation methods may not capture the dynamic nature of such initiatives.
• The International Development Research Centre's Food, Environment and Health (FEH) program serves as a case study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the application of Complexity Theory constructs in evaluating a research-for-development program.
• To identify promising approaches for evaluating complex programs.
• To discuss lessons learned from the FEH program evaluation.

Main Methods:

• Secondary, thematic content analysis of evaluation findings.
• Categorization of findings across four complexity constructs: emergence, unpredictability, contradiction, and self-organization.
• Application of complexity constructs to interpret program features.

Main Results:

• The FEH program demonstrated an evolving approach, adaptiveness to emergent issues, non-linear outcomes, and self-organizing agents.
• Complexity constructs surfaced key features of the program's dynamics.
• Implications for the evaluative process were identified.

Conclusions:

• Participatory and adaptive evaluation designs are most appropriate for complex funding programs.
• Assessing external contexts is crucial for effective evaluation.
• Complexity constructs enhance understanding of program dynamics and evaluation method effectiveness.