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1 Introduction and Overview of the Workshop
Pages 1-10

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From page 1...
... held a workshop at the Wellcome Trust in London to explore these recent evaluation experiences and to consider the lessons learned from how these evaluations were designed, carried out, and used. The statement of task for the workshop can be found in Appendix A
From page 2...
... The workshop explored the relative benefits and limitations of different quantitative and qualitative approaches within the mixed methods designs used for these complex and costly evaluations. It was an unprecedented opportunity to capture, examine, and disseminate expert knowledge in applying evaluation science to large-scale, complex programs.
From page 3...
... Evaluations of complex initiatives require more complicated strategic design considerations, but many of the issues discussed at the workshop are applicable to evaluations all along the spectrum of complexity. Though the workshop sought to identify lessons learned, it was not designed to look backward, said Kurth.
From page 4...
... Elliot Stern, emeritus professor of evaluation research at Lancaster University and visiting professor at Bristol University. The workshop then closed with reflections from representatives of the four funders of the workshop -- Gina Dallabetta of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mary Bassett of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Jimmy Whitworth of the Wellcome Trust, and Ruth Levine of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation -- on the major lessons and messages they were taking away from the event.
From page 5...
... To that end, evaluations of public health investments may inform not only program improvements, but also policy and funding decisions. Sanjeev Sridharan, director of the Evaluation Centre for Complex Health Interventions at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St.
From page 6...
... Gina Dallabetta, a program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, emphasized strengthening capacity for quality data collection in countries, especially as projects become larger and more complex. Dallabetta noted that program evaluations can be hampered by a lack of quality routine data collected within countries, reflecting a need
From page 7...
... Watts similarly observed that strong evaluations require resources, commitment, investments, trust, and strong relationships, but they can be tremendously beneficial for public health. Final Reflections on Future Large-Scale, Complex Evaluations As part of the workshop's final session, Levine shared some thoughts about future evaluations of large-scale, complex, multi-national initiatives
From page 8...
... The public health community has a tradition of basing program design on good evidence and then learning as it goes based on additional evidence. "The potential for evaluations to actually make a difference is there," said Levine, also observing that improving the technical quality of evaluations is a demanding task.
From page 9...
... Chapter 8 then turns to the use of triangulation and synthesis in analyzing data from multiple data sources and across multiple methods to yield a deeper and richer perspective on an initiative and increase confidence in the evidence base for evaluation findings. Chapters 9 and 10, which are drawn from the other two workshop concurrent sessions, explore specific extensions of some of the ideas discussed earlier in the workshop.


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