Building collaborative networks in evaluation: the experience of the AcolheSUS Project

Abstract

This article aims to explore the participation of actors and stakeholders in the evaluative experience of two pilot cases of the AcolheSUS Project, through different types of inclusive evaluation, namely collaborative, participatory, and empowerment. A descriptive analysis of the different arrangements and types of interaction that occurred throughout the evaluation process of the implementation of AcolheSUS was conducted. The description of the type of interaction and the level of intensity among the various actors involved is presented in a mandala format. Elements of the political and organizational contexts influenced the conduct of the evaluation and the different arrangements adopted, predominating in both cases the collaborative approach, where the alliance between evaluators and stakeholders occurs for the strengthening of the evaluation design, the expansion of information collection and the understanding of the results by stakeholders, in order to increase their use and influence.