2001 INVITED ADDRESS: Empowerment Evaluation: Building Communities of Practice and a Culture of Learning

TLDR

Empowerment evaluation is the use of evaluation concepts, techniques, and findings to foster improvement and self‑determination. Program participants, including clients, conduct their own evaluations with an outside evaluator acting as coach or facilitator, following a three‑step process of establishing a mission, taking stock, and planning for the future. The three steps build capacity, foster communities of practice, and create a culture of learning and evaluation within organizations or communities.

Abstract

Empowerment evaluation is the use of evaluation concepts, techniques, and findings to foster improvement and self-determination. Program participants--including clients--conduct their own evaluations: an outside evaluator often serves as a coach or additional facilitator depending on internal program capabilities. Empowerment evaluation has three steps: 1) establishing a mission; 2) taking stock; and 3) planning for the future. These three steps build capacity. They also build a sense of community, often referred to as communities of practice. Empowerment evaluation also helps to create a culture of learning and evaluation within an organization or community.