At a wider scale, an evaluation may assess disaster risk management structures, systems or organizations, as discussed in Benson and Twigg (2001). Alternatively, a risk management policy, or country strategy may be addressed, as described in (UNDP and UNISDR 2006).
6.8.1.2. Approach Evaluations do not have to be formal, externally-led actions, such as those often required by donors after completion of a project. They can take many other forms, including real-time evaluations, after-action reviews with communities, strategic reviews and internal or self-evaluations by project staff and partners. Where the evaluation process is led by the project in partnership with other stakeholders, there is stronger and more widespread ownership of the results; lessons can feed directly into the ongoing implementation or, where necessary, redesign of the project. The team chosen to carry out the evaluation should be selected on a range of factors: these include the balance between internal and external evaluators; the need for both technical and local knowledge; evaluation experience; relevant flood risk mitigation experience; and the gender balance within the team. Involvement of community representatives may be highly desirable; participatory processes, or beneficiary assessments, can complement or help validate information gathered through more formal or quantitative methods. Each approach should be selected according to its value in helping to understand the project’s impact. Good monitoring is an integral component of the evaluation system. It facilitates ongoing lesson learning by project managers, as well as provides data for subsequent evaluation. Traditionally, monitoring has been seen as relatively distinct from evaluation, but they are increasingly being treated as part of a single process directed towards lesson-learning and accountability (Wilkinson and Twigg 2009).
6.8.1.3. Time and timing It is important that sufficient time is allocated to each stage of an evaluation – planning, design, mobilization and implementation; quality will almost certainly suffer if insufficient time is allowed. Evaluations can take place at any point in the project cycle (for example, mid-term,
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