"Participatory and beneficiary-based approaches to the evaluation of humanitarian programmes" by Tania Kaiser, June 2000. 27 pages. Prepared for the UNHCR Evaluation and Policy Analysis Unit. "This paper seeks to assess the extent to which refugee and humanitarian agencies have used participatory and beneficiary based methodologies in their evaluation practice. A review of numerous guidleines for evaluation and the analysis of best practice in the humanitarian field demonstrates that there is increasing interest in the use of such methodologies amongst donors, UN and other international organisations and NGOs. A review of recent eveluation reports and consultations with evaluators and agency employees, however, suggests that the best practice which is proposed by numerous evaluation guidelines and handbooks has not yet become common practice" For further information, and copies of this paper, contact Jeffery Crisp at CRISP@unhcr.ch or visit the UNHCR Evaluation and Policy Analysis Unit web page at http://www.unhcr.ch/evaluate/projects.htm (Item No. 86, posted 31/07/00)