Strengthening Evaluation Contracting Partnerships: Fostering Stronger Relationships Between Funders and Small, Proximate Evaluation Firms

Foundations often support initiatives in multiple countries and cultures, including within the United States, with limited access to or familiarity with the people and local contexts in which activities occur. To gain a deep and nuanced understanding of their investments’ relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability, foundations are often eager to partner with evaluators close to the contexts and people who participate in and are most affected by their investments. Yet, foundations’ procurement and contracting systems may not be built for these partnerships. Through the Strengthening Evaluation Contracting Partnerships Initiative, we are addressing this challenge by helping foundations, small and proximate evaluation firms and evaluators, ally evaluation firms, and other medium and large-sized evaluation firms work together to identify practical actions we can each take to strengthen these partnerships. We share highlights from our open letter to funders and learning since then, offer practical examples, and suggest a way forward. In the Appendix, we offer a checklist that funders and other evaluation commissioners can use to strengthen their partnerships with small and proximate evaluation firms and evaluators.