Indigenizing Evaluation for Development - Civil society and evaluation capacity building in Zambia

Abstract: This thesis explores the interlinking of evaluation and development through an anthropological lens by considering the indigenization process of an evaluation culture, and how evaluation travels across boundaries as an assemblage, similar to many other global phenomena. Central to the thesis is the national evaluation capacity building trend viewed as a two-sided project; first as internal capacity building of institutions and organizations while facilitating a professionalization of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) through national evaluation associations. Second, as promoting civil society-led evaluation of government-implemented development policy. In this second part, a community monitoring and evaluation project organized by Zambia’s civil society network CSPR is examined as a strategy for social accountability and pro-poor development. The conclusions demonstrate that the current evaluation capacity building trend cannot be differentiated from the existing evaluation culture in Western societies and the current values of the new aid regime. The methodology relies on interview data from a field study conducted in Lusaka and Choma in Zambia, as well as documents and reports that were collected in the field. The data analysis was conducted using a qualitative data analysis software which is also discussed in brief.