Frequently Asked Questions about the ERD
What is the difference between the 'Public' and the 'ALNAP Member' section of the database?
The ERD holds reports that are publicly accessible ('Public Access') as well as reports, which are only accessible to ALNAP Full Members ('ALNAP Member Access'). The latter make for about one third of all ERD reports. This division is a result of commissioning agencies requesting certain reports to be treated confidentially. Where possible, we have provided an Internet link to the full reports that are 'Public'.
How do you distinguish between the different 'Report Types'?
ALNAP has developed a typology to differentiate between the types of evaluative report of humanitarian action currently held on the ERD in order to reflect their different objectives and functions:
Audit
An assessment of the degree to which an organisation or its output conformed to stated objectives and/or international norms.
Conference, Workshop or Seminar
Conference/workshop/seminar reports reviewing humanitarian action. If document is a conference proceedings, enter name of conference, place, dates, hosts.
Evaluation
A systematic and impartial examination of humanitarian action intended to draw lessons to improve policy and practice and enhance accountability. It has the following characteristics:
- It is commissioned by or in co-operation with the organisation(s) whose performance is being evaluated.
- It is undertaken either by a team of non-employees (external) or by a mixed team of non-employees (external) and employees (internal) from the commissioning organisation and/or the organisation being evaluated.
- It assesses policy and/or practice against recognised criteria: efficiency, effectiveness/timeliness/coordination, impact, connectedness, relevance/ appropriateness, coverage, coherence and, as appropriate, protection.
- It articulates findings, draws conclusions and makes recommendations.
Follow-up Study
Study following up the implementation of evaluative study's recommendations.
Good Practice Study
A study intended to establish what constitutes good practice (sometimes referred to as best practice) in the provision of humanitarian assistance.
Lessons Study
A study initiated by an organisation with the explicit objective of identifying lessons within that organisation, but falling outside the full evaluation definition. A process that may be facilitated by external consultants but is generally internal.
Real-time Evaluation
An evaluation that is carried out while a programme is in full implementation, and that simultaneously feeds back its findings to the programme for immediate use.
Review
An assessment (internal or external) of humanitarian action falling outside the full evaluation definition. Included in this category would be internal reviews, impact assessments, mid-term reviews, monitoring activities, policy reviews, operational research etc.
Summary
The summarised version of an evaluation or review, either prepared by the report authors or the commisioning agency, for dissemination in parallel with or instead of the full report.
Synthesis Report
An analysis of a series of evaluations to form an overall picture and assessment of the projects, programmes, policies or organisations that have been evaluated.
What are 'Key Sections'?
ALNAP makes certain sections of the reports available in the ERD depending whether or not they can be found in the report:
- Table of contents
- Executive summaries
- Terms of reference
- Principle findings and conclusions, occasionally lessons
- Methodology
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