Michael Wilmore

A holistic, learning-centred approach to building evaluation capacity in development organizations

There is growing pressure on development organizations to improve their evaluation systems and capacities. This presents considerable challenges for time- and resource-poor organizations in developing countries. Evaluation capacity development (ECD) approaches are needed that are appropriate and effective for such organizations. We argue that this requires a long-term, holistic, participatory, learning-centred approach that aims to develop learning organizations and build the capacity of whole organizations and their stakeholders. It also needs to incorporate local knowledge and ideas and ongoing meta-evaluation of ECD activities. We describe this approach and how it was applied in a four-year action research project with a non-governmental organization in Nepal. Drawing on findings from this project and various follow up activities, we suggest some principles and strategies for designing and implementing an effective and sustainable approach to ECD that can help to address the many challenges and issues we have identified.

Gatekeepers of cultural memory: Televising religious rituals in Tansen, Nepal

Abstract This paper examines the coverage of religious festivals by a local cable television organisation in Nepal. The fact that the programmes made by this organisation feature only some of these festivals is significant if we consider the complex role that mass media play in the mediation of socio-political relations between different sections of the towns diverse population. Nevertheless, it is argued that the examination of other processes of cultural mediation, including the festivals themselves, enables a better understanding of how mass media are incorporated into the construction of community and social identity in the public arena. The paper contributes both to the understanding of media, religion and community relations in South Asia and to media anthropology in general.

‘Passing Time’: A Qualitative Study of Health Promotion Practices in an Antenatal Clinic Waiting Room

The authors explore the information needs and preferences of pregnant women through a study of health-promotion strategies employed in an antenatal clinic waiting room at a tertiary hospital in the Northern suburbs of Adelaide, Australia. Conducted as part of a wider health communication project (‘Health-e Baby’), the chapter provides a detailed assessment of how these spaces are used by staff to convey health messages related to pregnancy and how pregnant women interacted with these materials whilst waiting for their appointments. Rodger, Skuse and Wilmore’s observational data is complimented by data drawn from semi-structured interviews (n = 35), which enables them to explore how waiting rooms can be used to maximise the potential efficacy of health promotion interventions at these important sites of interaction with antenatal patients. Preliminary insights from this chapter challenge assumptions about the efficacy of current uses of antenatal waiting rooms as a setting for the communication of health information.