In recent years, evaluation in the field of international development has undergone significant changes. First and foremost, the world we live in has become increasingly complex and interconnected. In the current era of the Sustainable Development Goals, governments, international organizations, private corporations, civil society organizations, and others are increasingly aware of the challenges surrounding transboundary and global issues such as climate change, migration, and international trade. At the same time, evaluation as a source of independent inquiry into the merit and worth of policy interventions to address global, national, and local challenges has grown in importance. The increased number of evaluation functions in governmental, nongovernmental, and private sector organizations; the growing number of countries with voluntary professional organizations for evaluators; and the growth in repositories of knowledge on policy interventions and their (potential) effects are all signs of this trend.

How should evaluators deal with the increasing complexity of policy interventions and the contexts in which they potentially influence change? How can evaluation as a function, as a practice, effectively contribute to the evolving learning and accountability needs of decision makers, practitioners, financiers, and citizens? These are questions that have no easy answers and to some extent require a departure from how things were done in the past.

This guide provides an overview of evaluation approaches and methods that have been used in the field of international development evaluation. Although by no means exhaustive, the modules provide accessible and concise information on useful approaches and methods that have been selected for their actual use and their potential in evaluation. The reading lists at the end of each module refer the reader to useful resources to learn more about the applicability and utility of the methods described.