We support our partner organisations in planning and evaluating change in an impact-oriented manner. This helps us to develop a shared understanding of the improvements we aim to achieve for the people we support. We believe it is important to engage in dialogue about objectives and expectations right from the planning stage.
Evaluation
Regular reflection
Our partner organisations regularly report on the results of their work. We gain further insight through evaluations. We can look back on a long history of conducting evaluations and critically reflecting them. We follow guidelines that have a decisive influence on the quality of evaluations and how they are handled.
We work with independent partner organisations and regard them as equal partners. Together, aim to improve the living conditions of people living in poverty through our projects. Evaluations play a very important role, serving as a tool for monitoring projects and assessing success. By reflecting on successes and challenges, we learn together with our partner organisations and continue to develop. Involving partner organisations and target groups in the evaluation process is very important to us.
Sibylle Nickolmann
Evaluation and Quality Management
- Telephone
- +49 241 442370
- evaluation@misereor.de
What impact do projects have?
Independent evaluation teams visit the projects supported by Misereor and analyse their objectives and impact. We publish the results of their analyses every year in the Annual Evaluation Report.
Annual Evaluation Report
An overview of the evaluations carried out for Misereor in 2025.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of…
An overview of the evaluations carried out for Misereor in 2025.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2026
- Number of pages: 29
An overview of the evaluations carried out for Misereor in 2025.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2026
- Number of pages: 29
Summary reports on the 2025 evaluations
An overview of the summary reports of the 2025 evaluations commissioned by Misereor
- Publisher:…
An overview of the summary reports of the 2025 evaluations commissioned by Misereor
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2026
- Number of pages: 92
An overview of the summary reports of the 2025 evaluations commissioned by Misereor
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2026
- Number of pages: 92
Since 1968, Misereor has regularly evaluated the projects it supports with the help of external experts. This enables us – and, in particular, our partners – to continually improve the quality and impact of our work. Evaluations serve primarily as a learning tool. They prompt further developments in project design at Misereor and among its partners. It is therefore essential to actively involve those taking part in the project. An evaluation not only assesses projects and the changes they have brought about, but also contributes to development in its own right.
Evaluations also serve to monitor success. Clear criteria regarding the duration and scale of funding, or project-specific features – such as a pilot project or a particularly challenging environment – oblige Misereor to carry out an evaluation. As a general rule, projects must be evaluated by the third funding phase at the latest.
Misereor publishes the results as part of its accountability process. In this way, we ensure transparency regarding the effective use of funds. The Annual Evaluation Report provides an overview of the results; in addition, we make summary reports on all individual evaluations available.
At least one tenth of projects funded by public money or donations exceeding €100,000 are evaluated each year. These mandatory evaluations are commissioned partly by Misereor and partly by Misereor’s partner organisations, which award the contracts to external experts. In this way, Misereor also ensures that its partners regard project evaluation as their own responsibility. In 2025, Misereor and its
partner organisations commissioned a total of 111 evaluations.
Misereor selects external consultants based on their professional, methodological and language skills. They are independent of Misereor as the client and of the projects. The wealth of experience possessed by these experts - also with other projects and organisations - enriches the perspective of Misereor and its partners.
When Misereor commissions evaluations itself, it usually selects a team of consultants, comprising one European and one local expert. Misereor contracts the European expert, whilst the project partner contracts the local expert. The partner organisations usually commission experts from their own country. Both consultants, ideally mixed-gender teams, should complement one another professionally. All evaluations - whether commissioned internationally or locally - adhere to international standards: they are based on the traditional criteria of development cooperation, the OECD/DAC criteria.
Misereor has compiled a database of consultants and consultancy firms. This database also includes individuals resident outside Europe. The experts are categorised according to their qualifications, regional and sectoral experience, and language and methodological skills.
Evaluation plans are published on this website, enabling consultants to apply directly for specific project reviews. Depending on the volume of work, assignments are put out to public tender in accordance with
the Sub-Threshold Procurement Regulation (UVgO).
The duration varies depending on the project and the issues to be addressed. As a rule, the preparation and follow-up phases last eight to twelve days. In addition, there is an on-site phase of approximately 10 to 20 days. This timeframe allows the project's target groups to be involved in the work.
Misereor's partner organisations benefit in particular from the evaluations. The involvement of project managers often triggers improvement processes directly. To facilitate this, the evaluation report is always written in the relevant foreign language. Misereor considers it important to be able to discuss and assess the implementation of the recommendations with its partners, for example during visits and project meetings.
Misereor also regularly carries out cross-sectional evaluations and meta-evaluations to promote its own learning processes. The resulting overarching lessons learnt are discussed on the basis of the Annual Evaluation Report and any identified adjustments are implemented in its funding practice as appropriate.
To maximise the benefit of the activities, Misereor generally avoids planning individual and cross-sectional evaluations as final project reviews. These are primarily carried out during the project's duration. This allows the insights gained to be used to guide the project by incorporating them into the planning of subsequent project phases.
Of course, they also incur costs. These costs are covered by project funding and are budgeted for in advance. Around one per cent of the annual project grant is allocated to evaluations. The valuable lessons that Misereor and its partner organisations learn from these evaluations help to improve the quality and effectiveness of our work. This benefits the people our work serves. Therefore, these funds are put to good use.
Yes, evaluations can be negative. Misereor primarily uses evaluations as a learning tool. Misereor therefore expects reflection on and implementation of the recommendations to lead to necessary project improvements. This will help to achieve the intended outcomes. Where necessary, Misereor will support the project holder in this process by providing advice, for example. However, cooperation may be terminated if the necessary changes cannot be implemented.
Consultancy
Contributing to improvements
Partner organisations face a wide range of challenges. Our consultancy services help them to address and overcome these challenges.
These services form an important part of our cooperation with partners. They complement financial cooperation and can significantly enhance effectiveness.
They are intended to give partners the opportunity to adapt to changing conditions and the associated challenges and to develop their own courses for action. These may involve concepts and strategies, as well as methods, specific technical issues or matters of organisational development. Depending on the content and objectives of the consultancy, various forms are possible. Typically, consultancy services form part of a longer-term support programme for project managers.
They are goal-oriented, yet open-ended in terms of outcomes. They also always provide Misereor with an opportunity to learn.
Overview of the short reports of the 2024 evaluations commissioned by Misereor
- Publisher: Misereor
- Y…
Overview of the short reports of the 2024 evaluations commissioned by Misereor
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2025
- Pages: 110
Overview of the short reports of the 2024 evaluations commissioned by Misereor
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2025
- Pages: 110
Overview of the evaluations carried out for Misereor in 2024.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of…
Overview of the evaluations carried out for Misereor in 2024.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2025
- Pages: 16
Overview of the evaluations carried out for Misereor in 2024.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2025
- Pages: 16
Overview of the short reports of the 2023 evaluations commissioned by Misereor
- Publisher: Misereor
- Y…
Overview of the short reports of the 2023 evaluations commissioned by Misereor
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2024
- 149 pages
Overview of the short reports of the 2023 evaluations commissioned by Misereor
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2024
- 149 pages
Overview of the evaluations carried out for Misereor in 2023.
- Published by: Misereor
- Year of…
Overview of the evaluations carried out for Misereor in 2023.
- Published by: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2024
- Pages: 36
Overview of the evaluations carried out for Misereor in 2023.
- Published by: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2024
- Pages: 36
Overview of the evaluations carried out for Misereor in 2022.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of…
Overview of the evaluations carried out for Misereor in 2022.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2023
- Pages: 48
Overview of the evaluations carried out for Misereor in 2022.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2023
- Pages: 48
Misereor commissioned an external review of the quality of the evaluations commissioned directly by…
Misereor commissioned an external review of the quality of the evaluations commissioned directly by partner organisations between 2016 and 2020.
The study analysed 64 randomly selected assignments from a total of 360 evaluations from the period in question.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: January 2022
- 5 pages
- Contact: Saidou Ouédraogo: +49 241 442 371 / Saidou.Ouedraogo@misereor.de
Misereor commissioned an external review of the quality of the evaluations commissioned directly by partner organisations between 2016 and 2020.
The study analysed 64 randomly selected assignments from a total of 360 evaluations from the period in question.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: January 2022
- 5 pages
- Contact: Saidou Ouédraogo: +49 241 442 371 / Saidou.Ouedraogo@misereor.de
Synthesis report on the evaluation of the human rights funding area
The evaluation of the "Human Rights" funding area at Misereor was carried out by an external…
The evaluation of the "Human Rights" funding area at Misereor was carried out by an external evaluation team between October 2016 and April 2018. The study analysed 301 projects that were approved between 2013 and 2015.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: March 2018
- Pages: 132
The evaluation of the "Human Rights" funding area at Misereor was carried out by an external evaluation team between October 2016 and April 2018. The study analysed 301 projects that were approved between 2013 and 2015.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: March 2018
- Pages: 132
Misereor commissioned an external evaluation of its "Vocational training" funding area in 2014 and…
Misereor commissioned an external evaluation of its "Vocational training" funding area in 2014 and 2015. A total of 106 projects were included.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2015
- Pages: 159
Misereor commissioned an external evaluation of its "Vocational training" funding area in 2014 and 2015. A total of 106 projects were included.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2015
- Pages: 159
Misereor had the quality of the evaluations commissioned in 2014 to 2015 reviewed externally. The…
Misereor had the quality of the evaluations commissioned in 2014 to 2015 reviewed externally. The subject was 261 evaluations.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: September 2016
- 103 pages
Misereor had the quality of the evaluations commissioned in 2014 to 2015 reviewed externally. The subject was 261 evaluations.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: September 2016
- 103 pages
Misereor has continuously developed its evaluation procedures in recent years. The handout…
Misereor has continuously developed its evaluation procedures in recent years. The handout "Evaluation in Misereor's partnership-based development cooperation" documents the current state of development.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2020
- Pages: 32
Misereor has continuously developed its evaluation procedures in recent years. The handout "Evaluation in Misereor's partnership-based development cooperation" documents the current state of development.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: 2020
- Pages: 32
Evaluation of the Rural Development funding area - focus on food security
Misereor commissioned an external evaluation of its "Rural development - focus on food security"…
Misereor commissioned an external evaluation of its "Rural development - focus on food security" funding area in 2010 and 2011. 258 projects were included.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: December 2011
- Pages: 105
Misereor commissioned an external evaluation of its "Rural development - focus on food security" funding area in 2010 and 2011. 258 projects were included.
- Publisher: Misereor
- Year of publication: December 2011
- Pages: 105
