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Paper short abstract

Recent cuts in development aid have increased the importance of evaluation in international cooperation. This study analyses the evaluation practices of Italian civil society organisations (CSOs), highlighting the role of evaluation in strengthening the effectiveness of development initiatives.

Paper long abstract

In recent years, the amount of resources allocated to international development cooperation has begun to decline. This trend has accelerated sharply over the past few years, particularly following the Trump administration's decision to dismantle USAID. Since then, numerous other countries, including some OECD members, have also decided to significantly reduce their official development assistance (ODA).

In response to these cuts, public opinion and donors are demanding greater accountability and transparency in the use of funds. At the same time, humanitarian organisations are seeking to maximise the impact of their actions.

Against this backdrop, the evaluation of international development cooperation initiatives is becoming increasingly important. As a research activity geared towards action and improvement, evaluation is not only a tool for ensuring financial accountability, but also an opportunity to learn how to make development interventions more effective. Thus, the practice of evaluation can help to rationalise the use of scarce resources.

This contribution focuses on the evaluation practices adopted by civil society organisations (CSOs). The reflections presented are based on doctoral research involving fifteen Italian CSOs that are active in the field of cooperation and receive the most funding from institutional donors. A qualitative approach was employed to conduct the research, utilising semi-structured interviews.

Analysing the evaluation culture of Italian CSOs provides in-depth information on some of the dynamics present in the cooperation system, including the effects of recent aid cuts. This contributes to the broader debate on development, intending to design increasingly effective initiatives.