"Who Are the Question-makers?: A Participatory Evaluation Handbook" is the first in a new handbook series being launched by the UNDP Office of Evaluation and Strategic Planning (OESP). This series aims to provide development practitioners with tools, examples, exercises and case studies that will help in translating plans into actions and theory into practice.

This handbook evolved from work undertaken during the past seven years in UNDP, first by the Central Evaluation Office (CEO) and in the past two years by OESP. Interest in participatory evaluation bas deepened as UNDP has striven to improve interaction with and serviced delivered to end-users and beneficiaries, particularly at the grass-roots level. Work began in late 1989 with an occasional paper commissioned by CEO entitled "Participatory Evaluation: Questions and Issues" prepared by Kim Forss. This was followed by a research and pilot test phase during which three project evaluations were conducted along participatory lines.

While the original intention of undertaking these pilot exercises was to produce guidelines on participatory evaluation, as we gained more experience, we realized that participation in not a process that can be mandated from above or guided from the centre. In this realization, we in OESP travelled the same path as the authors of the World Bank Source Book on Participations who found that "the best way of learning about participation is to experience it directly. The second best way is by seeing what others have done in the name of participation, talking to them, and seeking their guidance".

The present handbook has been designed to capture OESP's learning on participation and share it with you in the hope that you will be motivated to try the best method (doing something yourself) through experiencing the second best method (reading about what others have done)! To achieve this, the handbook is divided into two distinct sections: the first provides an overview of participatory evaluation while the second includes a self-contained training module consisting of a case study that documents an attempt at participatory evaluation, warts and all. This case study has been successfully used in training courses conducted for Junior Professional Officers during the past two years.

A few works of explanation will help you to understand why we chose the title "Who are the Question-makers?" As Michael Quinn Patton, one of the most eloquent and persuasive advocates for user-focused evaluation, puts it "Language matters. It simultaneously suggests possibilities and communicates boundaries." In this instance, the unfamiliar conjunction of "question maker" as distinct from the more usual "question asker" was chosen deliberately because it communicates a more active involvement of the stakeholder in the process of evaluation. A question-maker has more responsibility for seeking the answers than a more passive question-asker.

This handbook has been a collaborative effort by many people and we would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge their contributions: our thanks to Jennie Campos and Francoise Coupal, who helped to put the handbook together; to Kim Forss and Claus Rebien, who put the original case study together; and to the informal brainstorming and feedback group of Nurul Alam, Abdenour Benbouali, Janet Donnelly, Naheed Haq, Peter Hazelwood, Rosein Herweijer, Mala Liyanage, Rema Pai Nanda, Kaarina Valtasaari, Samir Wanmali and Rob Work. Carlos Lopes provided valuable insight and acted as a sounding board throughout the preparation of the handbook. Hearty thanks are due to the JPOs who participated in the induction coursed held in New York from late 1994 through 1996. The detailed feedback we received from these training sessions was of particular value to us in preparing section two. We would also lie to acknowledge Barbara Brewka for her excellent editing work, enforcing rigour in the way we express ourselves, and Maureen Lynch for coordinating the design and layout stages of the publication. Finally, like all successful projects, this handbook had its champion. Chandi Kadirgamar's unstinting devotion to this initiative at every stage from conceptualization to publication is a clear manifestation of her commitment to fostering participatory practices in UNDP.

We hope this handbook proves worthy of its name and is frequently referred to, not only because it proves to be a useful resource but also because it is enjoyable reading. We see this as the first version of many and would therefore look forward to hearing your ideas and suggestions on how it can be improved. Your input in expanding the annex on resource persons, groups and institutions who have experience in participation would be particularly appreciated.

Sharon Capeling-Alakija

Director

Office of Evaluation and Strategic Planning