Program Evaluation

Program evaluation is a complex necessity in all public health programming. Both implementers and funders use evaluations to assess program effectiveness, impact, and cost effectiveness, with the goal of using the results to guide program development, implementation, and ongoing improvement. Public health evaluation helps answer key questions such as

• Who are the target groups and does the program or intervention reach them?
• How does the program address needs in a culturally competent manner?
• How is the community affected by implementation of this program?
• Is the program cost effective?
• Is the program implemented well and according to plan?

Too few program managers have the educational training or field experience to know what information to collect and how to do it in a way that yields accurate and useful results. Several guidelines and tools have been developed and used in the field, but they have not been easily accessible to busy program managers and decision-makers.

To help address this gap, Family Health International has compiled an inventory of guidelines, frameworks, and manuals that provide users with instructions and step-by-step guidance to conduct program evaluations and inform program design and improvement. The material is grouped by category of user: all users, program managers, evaluation specialists in community-based organizations, international and nongovernmental agencies, researchers, and governments.

An Inventory of Program Evaluation Tools and Guidelines