Collaborative Evaluation: Engaging Communities Through Data Walks and Narrative Methods; Paper (to be presented as a 15 minute PowerPoint presentation in a Multi-paper session

Traditional evaluation practices often rely on metrics-based methods that prioritise the evaluator’s role while offering limited opportunities for community participation in shaping development policy and practice. This is not to undermine evaluators' expertise but to integrate their insights with the lived experiences of communities. While conventional approaches assess community needs and programme impact, they frequently exclude beneficiaries from interpreting results. Few studies have established guidelines for combining ‘data walks’ and ‘narrative methods’ in evaluation. As discussed, these approaches are often fragmented, lacking a cohesive framework for their integration. This study addresses this gap by advocating for participatory evaluation, setting parameters for merging ‘data walks’ and ‘narrative methods’ to enhance shared leadership and deepen community engagement. It clarifies the relationship between Theory, Context, Characteristics, and Methodology (TCCM), ensuring that evaluation processes meaningfully reflect the realities and aspirations of those most affected by development programmes.