88 - Elevating Community Voices: Adaptation of Success Case Method (SCM) to aid Community-Led Development Theory formation, testing and refinement

Abstract Information: This session explores the integration of Community-Led Development (CLD) principles into evaluation methodologies, emphasizing the creation of theories that articulate how CLD initiatives may lead to sustainable outcomes in diverse environments. Recognizing CLD as crucial for sustainable development, we delve into created-tested-refined theories of how, for whom, and under what circumstances CLD achieves its goals. We advocate for the development of these theories through methodologies that are either inherently participatory or adapted to embody CLD principles, ensuring inclusivity and community value reflection.

Much of our discussion focuses on the Success Case Method (SCM), which was traditionally utilized in organizational settings but has now been reimagined to incorporate local stakeholder perspectives in defining success criteria and impact models. This adaptation of SCM presents an opportunity to add to the existing value that SCM brings -i.e., that of bridging quantitative and qualitative research more effectively by targeting survey respondents for qualitative interviews based on locally grounded success metrics rather than metrics typically defined by evaluators/researchers/program staff. Such an approach enhances the accuracy and relevance of findings, ensuring they resonate with community-defined aspirations and challenges.

The session draws on findings from three theory-driven evaluations in Bangladesh and Ethiopia under the LIFE project. This research initiative, funded by USAID's Local, Faith, and Transformative Partnerships (LiFT) and led by the Movement for Community-Led Development alongside two member organizations, combines participatory evaluation methods with realist perspectives to enrich our understanding of local development processes. Within the context of the LIFE project, SCM is showcased not as a standalone solution but as part of a suite of methodologies refined for stronger community engagement. This session will provide an overview of the SCM methodology, its transformation, and highlight SCM's contribution to the field of evaluation, along with other methods that have been transformed to support a more community-oriented approach in evaluation. Through this lens, we contribute to the evolving dialogue on participatory and context-sensitive evaluation methods in development work, aligning with the broader movement towards community-led and inclusive evaluation practices.

This demonstration is aimed at participants interested in Mixed Methods, Program Theory and Theory-Driven Evaluation, Community Development, International Evaluations, and Cluster, Multi-Site, and Multi-Level Evaluation. It will provide them with a method that bridges methodological divides and embeds community perspectives into the heart of evaluation processes, illustrating SCM's potential to amplify and empower voices in evaluation within the framework of Community or Locally Led Development.