ESSENTIALS OF AN EVALUATION REPORT
As mentioned earlier, the format and style of your evaluation report will depend on your audience and purpose of the evaluation. Evaluation reports can be in the form of formal comprehensive reports, media releases, infographics, oral presentations, or even social media updates. Regardless of the format you choose, there are several essential sections that should be covered in your report: executive summary, background and program description, evaluation methodology, findings, interpretation of findings and recommendations.
Executive summary: Provide an overview of your program and highlights the key findings and recommendations from your evaluation. It is best to write the summary after all other sections have been completed, as by then you will have a good idea of what the most important aspects of the evaluation are.
Background and program description: Present the context from which the evaluation originated, the rationale for the program, a description of the program activities, and any other relevant information such as how the program relates to the organisation's broader mission.
Evaluation methodology: Describe the approach used to answer your evaluation question, and provide justification for why those particular methods were the most appropriate. Mention limitations in design or implementation as they allow your audience to understand the potential weaknesses of your evaluation and their impact on the implications of your findings.
Findings: Present an organised summary of the most important findings from your evaluation in a detailed and unbiased manner. Avoid jargon and use charts, tables and graphs if they will make the results easier for your audience to understand.
Interpretation of findings: Interpret your findings within the context of your evaluation goals and objectives and avoid making grandiose statements. Discuss the lessons learned from your evaluation and what has been contributed to existing knowledge. Were the results what you expected? What were the factors that contributed to these results? Were there any questions that remain unanswered?
Recommendations: Provide suggestions for modifications for the program in the future to improve the program's effectiveness in achieving its objectives. These recommendations should be concrete and feasible to increase the chances of them being adopted.
Executive summary: Provide an overview of your program and highlights the key findings and recommendations from your evaluation. It is best to write the summary after all other sections have been completed, as by then you will have a good idea of what the most important aspects of the evaluation are.
Background and program description: Present the context from which the evaluation originated, the rationale for the program, a description of the program activities, and any other relevant information such as how the program relates to the organisation's broader mission.
Evaluation methodology: Describe the approach used to answer your evaluation question, and provide justification for why those particular methods were the most appropriate. Mention limitations in design or implementation as they allow your audience to understand the potential weaknesses of your evaluation and their impact on the implications of your findings.
Findings: Present an organised summary of the most important findings from your evaluation in a detailed and unbiased manner. Avoid jargon and use charts, tables and graphs if they will make the results easier for your audience to understand.
Interpretation of findings: Interpret your findings within the context of your evaluation goals and objectives and avoid making grandiose statements. Discuss the lessons learned from your evaluation and what has been contributed to existing knowledge. Were the results what you expected? What were the factors that contributed to these results? Were there any questions that remain unanswered?
Recommendations: Provide suggestions for modifications for the program in the future to improve the program's effectiveness in achieving its objectives. These recommendations should be concrete and feasible to increase the chances of them being adopted.