A theory, implementation and short-term outcome evaluation of lifematters foundation's literacy intervention

Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references

The role of monitoring and evaluation in six South African reading programmes

In this article we focus on six reading programmes and ask: Do these programmes work insofar as they improve the reading ability of programme participants? We apply programme evaluation methods and content to these programmes to answer this question. Specifically, we use an approach that identifies the following five different levels of evaluation, namely: programme need; programme theory; programme process and implementation; programme outcome and impact; and programme cost and efficiency. We then add appropriate evaluation questions and research designs applicable to each level. We conclude by providing suggestions to reading programme staff on how to improve monitoring (data collection) in order to strengthen the evaluability of their reading programmes

A spatial evaluation of global wildfire-water risks to human and natural systems

International audienceThe large mediatic coverage of recent massive wildfires across the world has emphasized the vulnerability of freshwater resources. The extensive hydrogeomorphic effects from a wildfire can impair the ability of watersheds to provide safe drinking water to downstream communities and high-quality water to maintain riverine ecosystem health. Safeguarding water use for human activities and ecosystems is required for sustainable development; however, no global assessment of wildfire impacts on water supply is currently available. Here, we provide the first global evaluation of wildfire risks to water security, in the form of a spatially explicit index. We adapted the Driving forces-Pressure-State-Impact-Response risk analysis framework to select a comprehensive set of indicators of fire activity and water availability, which we then aggregated to a single index of wildfire-water risk using a simple additive weighted model. Our results show that water security in many regions of the world is potentially vulnerable, regardless of socio-economic status. However, in developing countries, a critical component of the risk is the lack of socio-economic capability to respond to disasters. Our work highlights the importance of addressing wildfire-induced risks in the development of water security policies; the geographic differences in the components of the overall risk could help adapting those policies to different regional contexts. Crow