Table 1

Overview of empowerment evaluation

DefinitionPrinciplesHow to
‘…an evaluation approach that aims to increase the probability of achieving program success by providing program stakeholders with tools for assessing the planning, implementation, and self-evaluation of their program, which mainstreams evaluation as part of the planning and management of the program/organization’

  1. Improvement—help people improve programme performance

  2. Inclusion—invite involvement, participation and diversity

  3. Democratic participation—open participation and fair decision making

  4. Social justice—address social inequities in society

  5. Capacity building—enhance stakeholder ability to evaluate and improve planning and implementation

  6. Organisational learning—apply data to evaluate and implement practices and inform decision making

  7. Community knowledge—respect and value community knowledge

  8. Community ownership—value and facilitate community control

  9. Evidence-based strategies—respect and use both community and scholarly knowledge

  10. Accountability—emphasise outcomes and accountability

  1. The Fetterman three-step approach (mission, taking stock, planning for the future)

  2. Getting To Outcomes (10-step approach described in table 2)