Demonstrating the value of community development: An inclusive evaluation capacity building approach in a non-profit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation

Abstract

Inclusive, culturally safe, appropriate and relevant ways of evaluating that contribute to better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders that can be communicated to a wide audience are urgently needed. An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander non-profit community development organisation, Indigenous Community Volunteers (ICV), has transformed towards this goal by intentionally building evaluation capacity over the past 4 years. ICV now incorporates participatory monitoring and evaluation approaches into the community development practices of the organisation to improve measurement and capture outcomes with communities. The principles of inclusion, flexibility, empowerment, ownership and effective communication were essential to the transformation. This article shares how ICV developed evaluation capacity in an inclusive and culturally appropriate way and the results of an independent assessment of the value of the process. ICV’s journey of change and the methodology used to make the assessment may be useful for other organisations or individuals working with community development organisations.