Meta-Evaluation Report Stage 2: Strategic Plan 2015-2021

Abstract

The meta-evaluation was commissioned by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), according to the Terms of Reference (see Annex 6). Dr Leslie Casely-Hayford from Associate for Change and Dr Pamela Branch from Project Services International were the consultants who undertook the evaluation, selected on the basis of a competitive tender. The evaluation was conducted in the fifth year of COL’s six year strategic plan in order to learn from implementation and provide feedback to COL management, Board of Governors, and partners in time to feed into and improve the planning and implementation of future strategic plans and programmes. The core objective of the meta-evaluation is organizational learning; it is to assess progress and support forward strategic planning. The focus of the evaluation was primarily on the results achieved against the 2015-2021 Strategic Plan, both intended and unintended. Specifically, COL wished to evaluate its current six-year plan against its objectives to: (1) Ascertain what difference COL has made over the past five years; (2) provide recommendations for incorporation into the next Six-Year Strategic Plan. This meta-evaluation used mixed methods to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. In keeping with the meta-evaluation approach, evidence was drawn extensively from the secondary data provided by multiple COL documents. This evidence was supplemented by primary data from key informants including COL donors, partners, board, management and staff, evaluators of COL initiatives and stakeholders from three countries. A survey of COL’s networks of Member State Focal Points, Honorary Chairs and Advisors produced additional evidence.