By Maud ter Bogt, Taetske Altenburg and Mai Chin A Paw

The development and feasibility of an accessible, participatory, systems-informed evaluation protocol: based on YoPA in Africa and Europe

This tutorial, ‘Youth-centered participatory and systems-informed evaluation approach’, by Maud ter Bogt, focuses on an accessible evaluation method to understand how and for whom actions create intended or unintended impact.

A growing number of public health actions target systems change to enhance health behaviors. Evaluating these actions requires a tailored evaluation approach that both embraces complexity and involves people with lived experiences. Because evaluation happens too often without significant involvement of people with lived experiences, we developed a systems-informed participatory evaluation approach that is accessible and usable for adolescents and adult stakeholders.

The tailored evaluation approach was developed and evaluated for and with adolescents and stakeholders in Europe and Africa during the YoPA project. The evaluation approach aims to evaluate the (un)intended effects of systems actions and their mechanisms of impact together with adolescents and adult stakeholders; and was based on Realist-informed Ripple Effects Mapping. Therefore, the evaluation approach balances adhering to Realist Evaluation and Ripple Effects Mapping technicalities; and ensuring accessibility for adolescents through game-like participatory exercises, simplified explanations and questions, and visual communication aids.

During the tutorial, you will first gain an overview of the evaluation approach. Subsequently, you will experience first-hand how the method operates, as various elements of the evaluation will be applied during the tutorial through a panel. Therefore, you will also gain practical insights into the facilitation necessities.

dr. Maud ter Bogt | dr. Teatske Altenburg | prof. dr. Mai Chin A Paw