A central tenet of our state strengthening initiative approach is that evaluation and empowerment are mutually supportive. In this regard, the involvement of community members in assessment efforts is a central goal and dimension of the project.

We believe that such an approach is essential for program improvement and development at the local level. Just as importantly, there is an important capacity building function in local involvement and assessment. Leadership and commitment to programs derives from the participants abilty to have input in the design, implementation, evaluation, and refinement of programs.

The evaluation of our project focuses on both program effects and capacity building indicators.

What are program effects and capacity building indicators?

Program effets specifically concerns the impact of literacy programs that are pursued in the four community sites.

Factors relevant to the program, like improvement in reading skills, participation rates, assessments offered by teachers and professionals will be measured. This program assessment is needed so that if necessary, programs can be improved and data can be developed which will assist other communities seeking to initiate or strengthen their literacy programs.

Capacity building indicators concentrate on the processes associated with leadership development, collaboration, and community network building in the four program demonstration sites.

A five-year time frame provides the opportunity for some of the long-term capacity building activities that cannot be adequately assessed in short-term studies. Our focus on capacity building indicators allows project leaders to address the three goals of evaluation identified for state strengthening projects:

1. documenting program experiences,
2. assessing best practices and successful program strategies, and
3. evaluating program outcomes.