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7 Summary

This hybrid decision-making framework enables projects and programs to take ownership of their

evaluation and communication plans. The framework is a hybrid of utilization-focused evaluation
(UFE) and research communication supported by mentoring. The integration of UFE and Research

Communication mentoring has resulted in a hybrid framework that also helps project teams clarify
and update their Theories of Change. This result is significant as most of the projects we supported

were research projects where some of the outcomes were difficult to define at the start, due to their
evolutionary nature. The approach has been delivered as a capacity development effort with attention

to partner’s readiness to receive mentoring. The partners have produced evaluation plans and research
communication strategies that they own and utilize. This approach grew out of two IDRC-funded

capacity development research projects (DECI-1 and 2) that provided mentoring in evaluation and
communication for information society research teams globally, between 2009 and 2017. The mentoring

progress was tracked through debriefing and process documentation with some use of checklists. Case
studies were produced to summarize the process and outcomes. While the project began with a focus

on evaluation and communication, the resulting hybrid framework has wider knowledge management
potential by enhancing reflective learning throughout the evolution of a project with the potential in

some cases to update or adapt project’s Theories of Change .

26 | EVALUATION & COMMUNICATION DECISION-MAKING