Evaluating projects contribution to sustainable development

Evaluating projects contribution to sustainable developmentChoosing a methological approach

Neus Martí Sanz | [email protected]

BriefsNo.1

When evaluating the impacts of

projects into sustainable development,

there are methodological choices to

be done.

Selected approaches should

fit into the nature of

environmental

challenges


High and multiple values at stake

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food security

in the decision making process

health cash incomes


ressources property &

tenure

advocacycapacities &

knowledge

biodiversity

High and multiple values at stakein the decision making process


Short-term projects outcomes

Multiple time and spatial scales

Natural resources renewal rates: renewal/ non renewal

Wide socio-ecological processes time scales

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Uncertainty of phenomena

Changing environmental conditions

Lack of predictability, incomplete knowledge

Constraints of probabilistic approaches

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Scientific research, technical consultancy, local knowledge

Convergence of Knowledge forms

Multiple understanding frames

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Who cares?

Local people and communities | women

|future generations | global citizens

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It becomes necessary to move

from scientific research and

consultancy advice to

Integrated Assessment

Enhancing the

quality of the evaluation process & results reliability


Adopting a “weak comparability” of values approach

StrongsustainabilityEstimating the impacts of

projects on a multiple set of

relevant dimensions of

sustainable development

Evidencing externalities and

distributional impacts

Using an appropiate

combination of non-

compensatory methodologies

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Ecosystem services and

bio-cultural heritage


Incommensurabilityof valuesLooking at the diversity of impacts in

multiple dimensions and terms:

monetary, bio-physical, human

wellbeing (health, incomes,

empowerment, happiness, equality),

cultural (symbolic, aesthetic, spiritual),

others.

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Does the meal

price constitute

the ecosystem

value?


Willingness to pay does not

incorporate unperceived

but existent things

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price & valueare not equivalent


Multiple valuationlanguagesSharing experiences to develop a

common framework of

understanding as a basis for

evaluation

Combining analytical procedures

with deliberative approaches

Using quantitative and qualitative

methodologies to assess impacts

and changesNeus Martí Sanz | [email protected] Imag

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The evaluation process acknowledges

phenomena complexity & uncertainty...

... but stills providing envidences of projects

contribution to sustainable development

Precautionary principleis operationalized into

decision making


Managing analytical constraints

Process & ResultsreliabilityHighlighting and prioritizing

evaluation goals

Recognizing systems complexity :

from the attribution to the

contribution approach

Caution when comparing results.

Clear identification of the

evaluation subject and object

Reflecting how analytical

constraints may be affecting

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Integrating the evaluation innovation management

InnovationIntegrating innovative practices into

the evaluation cycle. Reflective &

iterative learning exercises

Processing innovation results.

Validating and integrating them

into evaluation practices and

procedures

Moving from consultancy formulas

to adaptive learning processes

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Main idea

When evaluating the impacts of projects into

sustainable development, the nature of

environmental challenges requires

enhancing process quality to get reliable results

Evaluation result becomes then a

compromise solution between involved parties and evaluation criteria rather than an optimalsolution


Business

Evaluating projects contribution to sustainable development