User:Jindraczech/sandbox

Sustained impact evaluation is the evaluation of projects 2-10 years after they have 'closed out'. Closeout is the term for donor resources being spent and all financial resources accounted for. USAID has this resource.. This kind of evaluation returns to examine: 1) . Such projects can be named 'ex-post' or 'post-project' evaluations in international development. This matters because without evaluating what is 'still standing' long after closeout, we can be investing in project activities that have limited effects, that are wasteful, or that are excellent and should be replicated. We need data. Currently there are trillions of dollars of unevaluated projects worldwide.

Typically evaluators use 'mixed-methods' (qualitative and quantitative methods) do determine the sustainability of what projects expected would last as well as find new unexpected impacts. it views project participants and implementers as they key informants. Namely, that those 'beneficiaries' of projects have the greatest say in giving feedback on the results that remain years after projects completed, what adaptations have happened since close out, what new partners have come in to build on the previous project, etc. Shockingly, in international development (unlike psychology or education sectors), such sustained impact evaluations are very rare (see: Valuing Voices].

There can be terrific results including highly sustained impacts and unexpected results (see sustained impact) and results such as expansion of impacts long after closeout (see Country Ownership)

Doing more such evaluations helps people in international development know what to design more of (e.g. possibly microcredit), or use resources better (e.g. in-kind resources seem to be disincentives for sustainability once they are withdrawn), or implement better (e.g. engage participants and partners in design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation as well as handover as peers).