Evaluations
As an ICT4D knowledge broker, Spider strives to monitor and evaluate its own operations as well as the various activities it supports, and share this knowledge with interested partners and stakeholders. In the dynamic field of ICT4D, it is particularly important to pay close attention to ongoing activities in order to draw lessons learned. Since many ICT4D activities are of an experimental nature, including organizations like Spider, this learning process can generate new insights and clarify the way forward, thus optimizing results. At Spider we believe in learning from successes as well as failures, and in sharing our experiences in an open and transparent manner.
External evaluation of Spider 2009
McNamara, Kerry S. 2009. The Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions (SPIDER). An independent evaluation. Stockholm: Sida Review 2009:07.
Summary:
“There was broad consensus among those interviewed for this evaluation that SPIDER has executed these [its] activities with great energy, commitment and flexibility, despite a small staff, a changing external environment, and shifts in Sida’s expectations and internal organization on ICT issues. Developing country partners and beneficiaries have commended Spider for its support and its commitment to partnership and capacity building. SPIDER has served as a very promising example of the principle of Sweden’s current Global Development Policy that all Swedish stakeholders should work toward achieving Sweden’s development goals. However, concerns have been raised about the strategic coherence of SPIDER’s activities and priorities; its internal capacity to monitor, evaluate and learn from its various activities; and its alignment with Sida’s broader development priorities.” (MacNamara 2009: 4)
Evaluation of university projects 2010
Bråsjö, Ulf. 2010. Evaluation of the SPIDER program “ICT Project Collaboration with Swedish Partner Universities 2007-2009”.
Summary:
“As a first general and important observation it should be stressed that the supported projects have a high relevance, addressing well recognized and wide-spread problems in the partner countries. Output and outcome indicate that the projects are on track achieving impact. Focus has been put on governing structures and mechanisms in order to achieve sustainable result. However, a few of the projects have had issues to keep local commitment or transferring the results to a long-term owner. Relations have been built within the Swedish and international researcher community.” (Bråsjö 2010: 2)
Evaluation of IPID 2010
Hrastinski, Stefan. 2010. Evaluation of the International network for Post Graduate Students in the Area of ICT4D. KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Uppsala University.
Summary:
“IPID has expanded rapidly since 2006. It is evident that the IPID network fulfills a need, as there has been great interest in the network. IPID is growing despite that there is no explicit recruitment strategy. From SPIDER’s point of view, the most important contribution is the possibility for postgraduate students to support each other and to connect them with experienced researchers. The benefit of doing this is to support future ICT4D research. “ (Hrastinski 2010: 11).
| File | Size |
|---|---|
 Evaluation of IPID | 126.26 KB |
| Evaluation University Collaboration | 124.94 KB |
| Evaluation of Spider | 413.92 KB |
