Sustainable Development Evaluation: Understanding the Nexus of Natural and Human Systems

In: New directions for evaluation: a publication of the American Evaluation Association, Band 2019, Heft 162, S. 49-67

Abstract

AbstractEnvironmental threats continue to pose fundamental challenges to the ecosystems that support human life and societies, as demonstrated by the 2018 special report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Sustainable development has three closely interlinked dimensions: social, economic, and environmental. The evaluation profession has focused primarily on the first two, while largely neglecting the environmental dimension, which is fundamental to achieving social and economic goals. As progress in moving toward sustainable development rests on the foundation of natural resources and environment, evaluation cannot continue ignoring them. Evaluating at the nexus of natural and human systems requires approaches and skillsets that encompass both domains, taking into account their differing geographic and time scales. This article draws upon the work carried out by the Global Environment Facility Independent Evaluation Office in evaluating environmental programs and projects in developing countries. The experiences highlight the need for understanding the complex dynamic systems in which the interventions operate and interact. Theory‐based evaluations must incorporate the broader system and not be constrained to the internal logic of the intervention. The article also makes the case for mixed methods approaches and methods that can be tailored to answer various types of evaluation questions. This leads to the need for multidisciplinary teams to evaluate at the nexus of environment and development.