Evaluating the evaluation: Assessing the use of program evaluation for capacity building in a nonprofit organisation

The Duck Soup program was selected for this project as an example of a working group trying to build capacity in the community. Moreover, the program evaluations were also examined to determine if they had an impact on the program's ability to develop capacity. Through participant observation, key informant interviews and a review of the archival documents it was found that the working group was successful in building capacity within the partners and program evaluation had been a useful tool for program development. Based on SWOT analysis, a theoretical model was also developed that linked the weaknesses, threats and opportunities of the program to the working group's strengths and their use of program evaluation. The theoretical model was then used in a general application for other nonprofit organisations attempting to build capacity. It was determined that a working group has to have a strategy for program planning, strong leadership and utilize program evaluation to analyse and determine their course of program development. There also has to be an acknowledgment that most programs will encounter some limitations, which may or may not have plausible solutions.