Guiding Steps for Peacebuilding Design, Monitoring, & Evaluation

Authors: Jessica Baumgardner-Zuzik & Sharon Morris

Publisher: Alliance for Peacebuilding

Publication date: January 2018

Abstract: Good evaluation can only happen if we think about learning and evidence at the start of a program. This document, Guiding Steps for Peacebuilding Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation, details seven steps, outlined below, that are the minimum set of steps every peacebuilding program must adhere to in order to contribute to robust evidence and learning in the peacebuilding field. In the document that follows, each step is explained and the critical elements and their importance are outlined. We also provide an initial list of key resources for each step.

The seven steps are the following:

1. Conduct a Conflict Assessment

2. Peacebuilding Program Design

3. Develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

4. Conduct a Baseline Study

5. Monitoring and Adaptive Management

6. Conduct an Endline Study and Final Evaluation

7. Disseminate and Share Results and Key Learnings

The seven steps cover ‘what’ you should do. They do not cover ‘how’ you should do it. The resources listed at the end of each step will begin to provide you with information on the ‘how’. We are also developing a webinar for our members that will provide training and additional resources on each step. These steps will help you build a better program. Not every program will succeed, nor should we expect them to. We work on some of the world’s toughest problems. But, succeed or fail, if you follow these steps, you will be contributing vital knowledge to the field as a whole. And that is a very worthwhile goal.

Contents:

1            Introduction 2

2            Overarching Step: Conflict Sensitivity and Do No Harm 3

3            Step 1: Conduct a Conflict Assessment 4

4            Step 2: Peacebuilding Program Design 5

5            Step 3: Develop a Monitoring & Evaluation Plan 6

6            Step 4: Conduct a Baseline 7

7            Step 5: Monitoring and Adaptive Management 8

8            Step 6: Endline Study and Final Evaluation 9

9            Step 7: Dissemination and Sharing of Results and Key Learnings 10

10           Additional Resources and Peacebuilding Indicators 11

General Resources 11

Donor and Practitioner Conflict Assessment Frameworks 11

Peacebuilding Indicator Sheets 13

About the Authors:

Jessica Baumgardner-Zuzik is the Senior Manager for Learning & Evaluation at the Alliance for Peacebuilding.

Sharon Morris is the former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of State.