The Learning Function of Evaluation: A Conceptual Framing

ABSTRACT

In this article, we set out a conceptual overview of what we call learning in the evaluation ecosystem to depict the interplay between external influences, organizational and community factors, and learning levers (e.g. capacity building, systems thinking). We include both organizational and community development considerations in our framework as each provides a distinct vantage point from which to explore learning in the evaluation ecosystem. We explore the promise and possibility of learning from and through evaluation and the enormous challenges that must be navigated to fully realize the benefit of evaluation learning. We then consider a range of evaluation learning levers with strong potential to navigate challenges and conclude with implications for practice and research.