Evaluation as a mechanism to foster an equitable society in the Global South

Abstract

This scholarly book is Volume 2 of a duology that seeks to stimulate conversations among development evaluators, commissioners of evaluations and development programme decision-makers about the role of evaluation in addressing inequality and fostering an equitable society in Africa. The book chapters explore the following questions: (1) Take stock of what we know about inequality – what inequality is in the African context, and how does it affect the lives of the citizens of African countries? (2) What does equitable evaluation mean? How can the concept of equitable evaluation be adopted in evaluation practice? (3) What lessons can be learnt from evaluations of interventions that address inequality at various levels (sectoral, programmatic and project) levels? (4) What epistemological transformation in evaluation practice is needed to achieve an equitable society? and (5) How have issues of inequality manifested within evaluation practice through organisations, institutions and international development? This book’s target audience is academics engaged in the field of developmental programmes in sub-Saharan Africa.