Recorded presentation

Victor J. Mehia, Community Research for Central California, 2529 N. Farris Avenue, Fresno, CA 93704, (559) 243-7043, vjmehia@sbcglobal.net

Evaluation capacity building is critical to the success of any participatory evaluation study involving grass roots organizations. Local evaluators play an important role in facilitating capacity building activities and engaging members in a participatory evaluation process. In San Joaquin County, the local evaluator received special funding from the Partnership for Public’s Health Initiative to implement the Community-Based Participatory Research and Evaluation (CBPRE) project. The CBPRE project consists of three capacity building activities: 1) formation of a local research and evaluation team, 2) development and implementation of an intensive CBPRE training program, and 3) provision of technical assistance and support to each of the participating organizations. A goal of the CBPRE project is to provide the local research and evaluation team with the skills and tools it will need to participate in and eventually lead the ongoing evaluation process and other research-related activities (e.g., needs assessment, asset mapping, etc.). Discussed in this presentation are the success, challenges, and lesson learned around: 1) the local evaluator’s role in building evaluation capacity within community partnerships, 2) working with a local evaluation team through a participatory evaluation process, and 3) tailoring capacity building activities to both the context and capacity of the community partnership.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• describe the role of the local evaluator in the development of a local evaluation team;
• describe an approach that uses a local evaluation team to build evaluation capacity within community partnerships; and
• describe the role of local evaluation teams in the participatory evaluation process.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation