In recent years there has been a much greater acceptance of the idea that social development does not proceed according to the logical framework: it is complex, messy and emergent. What methods might evaluators use to make greater sense of what has happened and what is happening in development programmes in a way that does greater justice to the complexity of development? How might we escape the simple dualism of asking whether the programme/project is successful or not? How might we take greater account of the role of the evaluator in what they are evaluating?

Lecturer

Dr. Chris Mowles has worked in international development for thirty years and currently combines consultancy practice with directing the innovative doctoral programme at the Complexity Research Group,  University of Hertfordshire

Who should attend

Experienced evaluation practitioners and social researchers who are able to bring and speak about examples of their own practice to be discussed during the workshop.  

Why you should attend

Participants in the workshop will have an opportunity to explore their current practice with others, and to be exposed to ideas derived from the complexity sciences. We will consider a range of methods, and in particular the importance of reflection and reflexivity in research. This is an experiential, participative workshop rather than skills training as such.

Programme overview

 Day 1 (09:30 - 16:30)

 Morning Session I: Input from Chris Mowles on some of the key insights from the complexity sciences and their implications for research and evaluation methods. 

 Coffee Break

 Morning Session II: Participants share some of the projects they are working on as a way of talking about the methods they are using. 

 Lunch

 Afternoon Session I: Further input from Chris Mowles on complexity and evaluation problematising the idea of evidence. 

 Coffee Break

 Afternoon Session II: More examples of participants' own practice.  

 Day 2 (09:30 - 16:30)

 Morning Session: Researching into practice - input from Chris Mowles on using the self as an instrument of research. Participants consider examples from their own practice. 

 Lunch

 Afternoon Session: Evaluating your own practice during the last two days. 

 The workshop will be held in English.

Participants will receive

 Access to wiki with publications and training session documentation

• Certificate of participation provided by EADI

Register online (number of participants is limited) 

 Participation fee is 650 EUR. There is a special discount of 100 EUR for EADI members and partners and also for students with valid student ID.

 Lunch and refreshments are included. Please be aware that EADI does not offer any funding.

 Please bring your own laptop.

 Location : EADI Headquarters (European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes

Contact: Miriam Zeh

Tel.: (+49) 228/26 18-962

E-mail: masterclass(AT)eadi.org