RETHINKING THE EVALUATOR ROLE - PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS AND EVALUATORS

Participatory evaluation provides a framework for conducting evaluatio ns which recognize the importance of representing stakeholder interest s, and also seeking the investment of stakeholders in the construction of the evaluation process and product. This type of evaluation casts the evaluators role as an involved collaborating participant in the ev aluation. I have suggested partnerships between evaluators and organiz ations as one possible manifestation of this new role. Such partnershi ps provide for a long term relationship between evaluator and organiza tion, at less cost than an internal evaluator, and with greater likeli hood of addressing systemic factors which directly effect the quality of goods and services provided by the organization.