Evaluation

Vicky Cosstick is available for evaluations or learning reviews where the client wants to focus on learning what has happened in complex projects, in order to understand the history of a project better and/or improve project delivery and outcomes.

Vicky has developed an evaluation methodology which takes advantage of her skills and background in journalism, sociology, advanced listening and complexity theory.

This methodology delivers exceptionally well-written evaluations, free of jargon, with clear analysis of complex project situations.

The evaluation she carried out of a Comic Relief child protection, participation and rights project in Tamil Nadu, S. India, in Jan 2010 was externally assessed. The assessor wrote:

“I find this evaluation innovative, creative and engaging, and the report demonstrates similar levels of engagement from all the participating stakeholders. It has tackled a very fractured and turbulent project, and yet produced a forward looking and child-centred piece of writing.

Its method has obviously had a positive effect on those involved. It’s a long but highly readable report. I feel it could be used as an example of best practice, as its deceptive simplicity of description and ‘open door’ policy of listening has encouraged candour and a refreshing lack of ‘hiding stuff under the carpet’.

Answering the question about the achievements of this project has been achieved, and the evaluation is clearly pegged to the terms of reference, and has not tried to evade any of the project’s problematic complications.”

In 2006 and 2008, Vicky carried out evaluations of complex and difficult DFID PPA projects for CARE UK. The first was of a project to improve citizens’ access to healthcare facilities in Malawi; the second evaluated a range of advocacy initiatives for sex and gender based violence projects in DRC, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.