The AEA Guiding Principles for Evaluators recommend that evaluations include the opinions, perspectives, and active involvement of stakeholders from the beginning and throughout the evaluation process. Luckily, there is a specific type of evaluation framework called participatory evaluation that is based on the active participation and partnership of stakeholders.
Participatory evaluation is a guiding approach to evaluation that ensures the active involvement of stakeholders throughout the process. It engages the evaluators and stakeholders (i.e., program participants, the community at large, etc.) in the decision-making process when creating an evaluation and using results and goes beyond simply gathering data from participants.
Participatory Evaluation
- Builds active stakeholder participation, identifying relevant data, methodologies, and uses
- Increases sense of ownership and investment
- Strengthens the link between evaluation use and stakeholder perspective
- Increases stakeholder skills
- Fosters a community or organizational culture dedicated to learning and improvement
Participatory Evaluation With Youth
For youth-serving programs, the participatory evaluation process can be very beneficial. Youth views may vary widely from adult program staff or evaluators. Understanding and integrating youth perspectives can lead to more engaged youth participants and more meaningful evaluation results.
Involving Youth
- Means including youth in the entire process
- Builds communication between youth and adults
- Empowers youth to express themselves and exercise their rights
- Increases buy-in for program success
- Provides concrete skills such as problem-solving and civic values
UNICEF Child Participation Resource Guide
UNICEF Wheel of Change Children and Young People's Participation in South Asia
University of Michigan Participatory Evaluation with Young People
University of Wisconsin Extension Youth-Adult Partnerships in Evaluation (Y-AP/E)