The role of evaluation in accountability in donor-funded projects

Based on many years of experience in the monitoring and evaluation of healt h and related projects in Nigeria, this article emphasises the need for a n ew approach, giving much greater responsibility to community-based organisa tions and allowing them a major role in consequent modifications to project design. It is suggested that this could greatly assist in fostering projec t ownership and hence the potential for sustainability. Emphasising the acc ountability of the project to the intended beneficiaries in this manner wou ld also encourage those beneficiaries collectively to ensure financial acco untability with regard to the use of donor and local project funds. Provisi on of training and support to enable community-based organisations to under take these new responsibilities could also have substantial multiplier effe cts on the local economy, as new skills, for example management of microcre dit schemes for health costs, were applied in other sectors.