Wicked Problems: Peacebuilding Evaluation Ethics

Authors: Reina C. Neufeldt for the Peacebuilding Evaluation Consortium

Publisher: CDA Collaborative Learning

Publication date: August 2016

Abstract: The purpose of this briefing paper is to support evaluators in producing good evaluations by helping to think about values and ethics consciously and carefully. To do this, we’ll first look at the relationship between ethics and evaluation. We will then look at the big picture of what constitutes “good peacebuilding” or peacebuilding “done right”. We will also explore ethical issues involved in who determines the values and criteria by which we judge programs. And, finally, we will explore ethical issues involved in how evaluations are conducted - an area for which there tends to be more developed guidance available. The paper concludes with additional resource material for further exploration.

Contents:

1            Introduction 1

2            Values, Ethics and Evaluation 2

3            The What: Determining “Good” and “Right” Peacebuilding 2

4            The Who: Who Decides What is Good and Right? 7

5           The How: How Do We Ensure Peacebuilding Evaluations Are Done Ethically? 9

6           Conclusion: Creating Space for Moral Values 11

7            Additional Resource 12

8            Appendices 15

About the Authors:

Dr. Reina Neufeldt is an Assistant Professor in the Peace and Conflict Studies Program at Conrad University College, University of Waterloo.

The Peacebuilding Evaluation Consortium (PEC) is a project of Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP) in partnership with CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Mercy Corps and Search for Common Ground (SFCG). The project is funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY) and is field-wide effort to address the unique challenges to measuring and learning from peacebuilding programs.