Critical appraisal of the establishment of a theory-informed evaluation capacity building function in a large government department
| Author | Delyth Lloyd,Eleanor Williams,Desiree Terrill |
| Published date | 01 September 2022 |
| Date | 01 September 2022 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/1035719X221109311 |
| Subject Matter | Academic Articles |
Academic Article
Evaluation Journal of Australasia
2022, Vol. 22(3) 142–156
© The Author(s) 2022
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DOI: 10.1177/1035719X221109311
journals.sagepub.com/home/evj
Critical appraisal of the
establishment of a
theory-informed evaluation
capacity building function in a
large government department
Delyth Lloyd, Eleanor Williams and Desiree Terrill
Centre for Evaluation and Research Evidence, Victorian Government Department of Health, Melbourne, VIC,
Australia
Abstract
Evaluation Capacity Building (ECB) is a critical function that can increase upta ke, quality
and impact of evaluation activity in large organisations. This article describes how ECB
theory has been applied in the design and implementation of foundational evaluation
training in a large state government department. Appraisal of the first three years
(2018–21) establishing the training component of the capacity building function is
explored, in light of contemporary capacity building literature. Post-training feedback
indicated high degree of participant satisfaction and met need among department staff.
One-year follow-up of training workshops indicated that over two-thirds of re-
spondents (68 percent) found evaluation training had a lasting impact on their work,
and that participants continued to use evaluation support materials and apply what they
had learned. The article provides practical information on this theory-informed ap-
proach, to support others who are commencing or delivering evaluation capacity
initiatives within public sector agencies or other large organisations, including for those
who are adapting training for online delivery during COVID-19. The article identifies
lessons learned, including through the experience of moving training online during the
COVID-19 pandemic, and presents opportunities to increase the impact of evaluation
capacity building.
Corresponding author:
Delyth Lloyd, Centre for Evaluation and Research Evidence, Victorian Government Department of Health,
50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.
Email: Delyth.lloyd@health.vic.gov.au
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