Civil Society Organizations and Evaluation

Abstract

The past two decades have seen a drastic increase in the role and expectations of civil society organizations (CSOs) in international development, placing greater demands on the evaluation of CSOs and associated programs.While there is much potential in CSOs, it is important to recognize the distinctly political and economic realities in which they operate. CSOs face formidable challenges, the foremost being dependency on donor funding and the resultant threat to CSO autonomy and performance. Does donor-required monitoring and evaluation (M&E) enhance or compromise CSO performance? Drawing upon research from the United Nations Office of the Special Coordinator of Africa and the Least Developed Countries (UN/ OSCAL) and the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (UN-OSAA), this article presents an overview of African CSOs, exploring key issues that can inform the international M&E community.