Publications

Given the large number of crises and conficts worldwide, it is important to learn from past and current engagements in fragile contexts in order to make positive results replicable and avoid mistakes. The fndings of the joint ministerial evaluation of the German government's civil engagement in Afghanistan demonstrate what can be learned from this engagement, which was unprecedented both fnancially and in terms of human resources. These lessons can be applied in future operations in highly fragile contexts affected by violent confict. This policy brief presents key findings and recommendations of this joint ministerial evaluation.

• Hartmann, C., M. Weeger, A. Lange and K. Mielke (2024), Learning from Germany´s Civil Engagement in Afghanistan, DEval Policy Brief 3/2024, German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), Bonn and German Police University (DHPol), Münster.

Angesichts der großen Zahl von Krisen und Konfikten weltweit ist es wichtig, aus vergangenen und laufenden Engagements in fragilen Kontexten zu lernen, um Erfolge wiederholbar zu machen und Fehler zu vermeiden. Die Erkenntnisse der ressortgemeinsamen Evaluierung des zivilen Engagements der Bundesregierung in Afghanistan zeigen, was aus dem bis dato finanziell wie personell beispiellosen deutschen Engagement für zukünftige Einsätze in hochfragilen und von Gewaltkonflikten geprägten Kontexten gelernt werden kann. In diesem Policy Brief werden die zentralen Ergebnisse und Empfehlungen der Evaluierung vorgestellt.

• Hartmann, C., M. Weeger, A. Lange und K. Mielke (2024), Lernen aus dem zivilen Engagement in Afghanistan, DEval Policy Brief 3/2024, Deutsches Evaluierungsinstitut der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (DEval), Bonn und Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei (DHPol), Münster.

Development cooperation is one of the few policy fields where evaluation is deeply institutionalised as an important component in the policy cycle. Independence, utility and credibility are overarching principles that guide both evaluation criteria as well as processes. Still, a challenge exists in how to adequately strengthen the role of partner countries in the evaluation of development cooperation. This policy brief suggests a framework for analysis, consisting of four interdependent dimensions which should be carefully considered: a partner dimension, a process dimension, an intensity dimension and a capacity dimension. Using such a framework allows to develop tailor-made reforms for diferent types of evaluations as well as organisations instead of proclaiming one overarching normative blueprint.

• Faust, J. (2024), Strengthening the Role of Partner Countries in Evaluating Development Cooperation: A Framework for Analysis, DEval Policy Brief 2/2024, German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), Bonn.

This policy brief presents the findings of an Evidence Gap Map (EGM) that depicts the available evidence on cash transfers and cash plus programs across a wide range of outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. The EGM facilitates evidence-informed decision-making in social protection by enabling easy access to the existing rigorous evidence. It also seeks to address the current lack of a systematic mapping of the evidence on the impact of cash transfers. This policy brief pinpoints critical areas and populations for which limited or no evidence exists, and hence suggests potential avenues for closing those knowledge gaps.

• Pasha, A., V. Urueña, S. Knoll, K. Wolf, C. De Swardt, M. Featherston-Lardeux and D. Hörner (2024), Evidence Gap Map: Social Protection. Cash Transfers and Cash Plus Programs in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: Policy Brief, Center for Evaluation and Development (C4ED) and German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), Bonn.

In recent years, the body of evidence on the effects of cash transfers and cash plus interventions has increased significantly, particularly for low- and middle-income countries. The range of studied outcomes spans diverse fields such as health, education, consumption, and women's empowerment. As more studies and information become available, the need for synthesis and evidence mapping becomes ever greater. This evidence gap map aims to facilitate evidence-informed decision-making by enabling easy access to the existing rigorous evidence on cash transfers and cash plus programs in low- and middle-income countries. It includes a total of 709 impact evaluations and 33 systematic reviews and provides a visual and interactive representation of these studies in a framework of cash transfer types and a broad range of outcomes. Moreover, it pinpoints critical areas with limited or no evidence, highlighting areas in which more impact evaluations or syntheses are needed.

• Pasha, A., V. Urueña, S. Knoll, K. Wolf, C. De Swardt, M. Featherston-Lardeux and D. Hörner (2023), Cash Transfers and Cash Plus Programs in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: Evidence Gap Map, Center for Evaluation and Development (C4ED) and German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), Bonn.

In an implementation monitoring process DEval assesses the extent to which the recommendations of DEval evaluations have actually been implemented in development policy practice and to what extent the changes suggested by these recommendations have occurred. This first synthesis report summarises the findings from a pilot phase of implementation monitoring. It looks at recommendations from ten DEval evaluations published between 2015 and 2018. The transparent presentation of how addressees dealt with the recommendations and the derivation of conclusions as well as possible learning potential, for both DEval and the addressees, contributes to improving evaluations, their recommendations and their implementation.

• DEval (2023), Implementation of Recommendations from DEval Evaluations. Synthesis of the Implementation Monitoring of DEval Evaluation Recommendations (2015 – 2018), German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), Bonn.