The Value for Money agenda: from a straitjacket to a learning approach

ABSTRACT

Value for Money (VfM) is increasingly a funding requirement for UK aid. This article builds on research around different VfM approaches to highlight the challenges faced by the sector in applying VfM for organisational evaluation and learning. It argues that the focus must be on: what is really changing for people, not only on how resources are used; involving communities in programmes and enabling them to play a key role in the VfM judgements; using VFM to inform future programme decisions; and ensuring these approaches become integral to organisational ways of working.

KEYWORDS:

• Aid - Accountability, Aid effectiveness, Monitoring and Evaluation, Development policies
• Civil society - NGOs, Participation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Francesca D’Emidio is an independent consultant, formerly the Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor for ActionAid’s International Secretariat. She is currently an Associate Trainer for BOND and supports INGOs with the development of Value for Money and monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks and tools, with a focus on participatory methods.

Tina Wallace has worked in teaching, research and practice across many areas of development including the role of NGOs, strategic thinking and learning, and gender equality. Widely published, she is currently working with a range of local and INGOs. She is based at the International Gender Studies Centre at Oxford University.