Evaluation in Palestine

This chapter analyzes the institutionalization of evaluation in Palestine. It examines the macro-context, including the political, social, and economic aspects of the country, and traces the historical development of evaluation practices. This is with the understanding that the Israeli settler colonization of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the blockade of the Gaza Strip are key drivers of fragility and that de-development and dependence are two prime consequences. This is further exacerbated by the sectarian division between Fatah and Hamas. The chapter assesses the institutional structures and processes related to evaluation, including the legal framework, parliamentary oversight, and organizational arrangements within the government and civil society. It also explores the societal dissemination and acceptance of evaluations, public discourse, stakeholder participation, and demand for evaluations. The professionalization of the evaluation field in Palestine is examined through the lens of academic programs, research outputs, professional networks, and evaluation standards. The findings indicate progress in establishing evaluation structures and processes but also highlight challenges in fully institutionalizing evaluation practices across government and civil society. The chapter identifies areas for further development, such as strengthening evaluation capacity, enhancing stakeholder engagement, fostering a culture of evaluation use and learning, and increasing demand for evaluation.