Mesh Strategic Plan
by Mesh editorialThis article gives a brief introduction to the Mesh Community Engagement Network's Strategic Plan including the theory of change and streams of activity
Webinar: Taking relationships seriously: Findings from a realist review of community engagement
by Mesh Editorial TeamThis webinar held in May 2022 on the REAL Community Engagement Realist Review shared some fascinating findings which give more conceptual clarity around how community engagement works in practice. It highlighted some key relationships and power dynamics at the heart of engagement work.
Guides & Tools: LBG Open Innovation in Science Center Impact Model and Instruments
by LBG Open Innovation in Science CenterDeveloped by the LBG Open Innovation in Science Center present a toolkit that can be used respectively to plan and to collect feedback around the effects of involvement and engagement initiatives in research projects.
GPP Strengths and Gaps is a facilitator’s guide for an exercise that is designed to help evaluate GPP implementation at a site level. It can be used with community and trial participants to garner honest feedback and constructive suggestions for improvements.
The AVAC Stakeholder Interview Questions is a tool that is designed for trial site staff. It guides members of the research team through the process of conducting a one-on-one interview with a stakeholder. The tool provides guidance for talking with many different types of stakeholders. It can be used to evaluate the impact of stakeholder engagement efforts.
Guide: AVAC Good Participatory Practice: Monitoring and Evaluation Tools
by AVAC, Mesh Editorial TeamAVAC has developed a large set of supplementary tools to help research teams and other stakeholders understand, implement, and monitor the GPP guidelines. The monitoring and evaluation tools consist of a set of data collection tools for community and stakeholder engagement activities.
This article gives a brief introduction to the Mesh Community Engagement Network's Strategic Plan 2019 - 2022 including the theory of change and streams of activity
Literature: Developing a finer grained analysis of research impact: Can we assess the wider effects of public engagement?
by Marco HaenssgenThis article, published with a creative commons licence on the LSE Impact Blog, suggests a more comprehensive and balanced approach for the evaluation of public engagement, drawing on evaluation criteria commonly used in aid evaluation.
INTRAC has launched the M&E universe, a free, online resource for development practitioners involved in monitoring and evaluation (M&E).
Minimum standards and indicators in engagement
by Mesh Editorial TeamInformalScience.org is a central portal to project, research and evaluation resources designed to support and connect the informal science education community in museums, media, public programs and a growing variety of learning environments
Red Cross Red Crescent, Community Engagement and Accountability Resource
by Mesh Editorial TeamA resource from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent to support Community Engagement at the centre of humanitarian work.
Ecological Validity and the Study of Publics: The Case for Organic Public Engagement Methods
by Mesh Editorial Team, Sian AggettSummary of academic paper critiquing experimental approaches to public engagement advocating instead an 'organic engagement' approach with 'ecological validation' which explores the context and mechanisms in which public's deliberations and opinions are formed. The paper is not open access however a comprehensive summary is given here.
Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Vietnam: Science Theatre Project Evaluation
by Mesh Editorial TeamThis resource from the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam shares their Science Theatre work and evaluation. The piece results from a presentation given at the March 2017 Mesh Evaluation workshop. For more information and links to other resources that emerged from the workshop (which will be built upon over time) visit the workshop page.
Science Communication evaluation methods at Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust (MLW)– the case of the Samala Moyo project
by Mesh Editorial TeamCommunity Health Decision-Making: The Power of Focus Groups in Rural Communities
by Mesh Editorial TeamThis study, which took place in the U.S, may be of interest to Mesh readers interested in the power of 'community voice' on decision-making in health policy and research.
Workshop Report: ‘Community Engagement – Under the Microscope’ in Thailand in June 2011
by Mesh Editorial TeamA summary of a report exploring Community Engagement, what it means to global health researchers and its relationship to research ethics.
Evaluation of KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme Engagement – Programme-wide Evaluation
by Mesh Editorial TeamThis case study is about a proposed programme of work on evaluation of the various engagement activities (public and community) that are undertaken at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP). The case study was based on a presentation delivered at the Mesh Evaluating Community Engagement Workshop 2017.
Participatory Theatre and Health Behaviours in Informal Settlements, Gujurat, India
by Mesh Editorial TeamAn overview of a project which used participatory theatre methods to disseminate messages about health promoting behaviours within informal settlements in Gujurat, India. The project was evaluated using 'quasi-experimental' quantitative methods.
Article: Community Engagement for the Rapid Elimination of Malaria: the Case of Kayin State, Myanmar
by Mesh Editorial TeamThis article outlines Community Engagement efforts linked to a Targeted Malaria Elimination (TME) project in four Kayin State villages, in Myanmar where there is a real threat from the spread of drug resistant parasites. The Community Engagement programme was aimed at promoting population uptake and adherence to Mass drug administrations (MDA) in the region.
Guide: Community Toolkit
by Mesh Editorial teamGuide: Coinquiry Toolkit
by Mesh Editorial teamGuide: Dilemmas cafés: A guide for facilitators
by Mesh Editorial teamRobin Vincent, Evaluation Consultant, UK gives an introduction to evaluating engagement with particular focus on the Theory of Change approach and how complexity in engagement can be navigated in evaluation.
Project Report: Using Traditional Arts to Engage School Students on Environmental Health Issues in Delhi, India
by Rachita Gupta, kartiksharma, Banalata SenOur Environment, Our Health was conceived to raise awareness among school students of India’s pressing environmental health challenges. The approach enabled students to learn, discuss and respond to environmental health issues through a process of creative inquiry and puppetry
Project Report: Evaluating engagement: Implications for gender and ethics in health systems research
by Sassy MolyneuxIn this article Sassy Molyneux, a participant of the Mesh evaluating engagement workshop (March 2017), reflects on the learning from the workshop, focusing on points useful for health policy and systems researchers with an interest in gender and ethics.
A participant reflection on the Mesh Evaluating Community Engagement Workshop (March 2017) which aimed to move forward the debates surrounding evaluation by drawing on practical experiences.
Project Report: A puppet show to engage the community addressing antimicrobial resistance and research with children
by Alice Hawryszkiewycz, phaikyeongFishy Clouds, a puppet theatre show, was created to engage the community on issues of antimicrobial resistance and research with children in Thailand. Fishy Clouds ran for twelve shows during the months of November and December 2016 in schools, hospitals, theatres and health centres. The show was performed in Bangkok and in the greater Mae Sot area in the Tak district of Thailand.
Guide: Community Stakeholder Engagement (CSE) Monitoring Toolkit
by Engagement for ImpactThis user friendly set of quantitative and qualitative monitoring and evaluation tools allows users to capture, collate and analyze Community and Stakeholder Engagement (CSE) data at the clinical trial site-level. The database is designed to support engagement teams working on clinical trials on a daily, monthly, quarterly and biannual basis.
Project Report: Art in Global Health: Report and Video giving Insights and Considerations for Future Artist Residencies
by Sian AggettIn 2013, Art in Global Health set up artist residencies in six Wellcome Trust-funded research centres as a way of teasing out some of the more personal, philosophical, cultural and political dimensions of health research. This exciting project was born out of Wellcome Collection's desire to engage the curious public globally with the health research that the Trust funds - in Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam and the UK.
Summary of Project Reports: Types of Change in Wellcome Trust Linked Community Engagement Programmes and Projects
by Robin VincentA descriptive summary in table form of community and public engagement activities from a selection of Wellcome Trust linked programmes and projects in low- and middle-income countries.
Guide: Outcome Mapping: Building Learnings and Reflection into Development Programmes
by International Development Research CentreThe original manual to Outcome Mapping produced by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
Wellcome Trust International Engagement workshop report: Engaging with Impact: How do we know if we have made a difference? (South Africa 2012)
by Wellcome TrustThis report is based on conversations that took place at the Wellcome Trust’s fourth international engagement workshop: ‘Engaging with impact: how do we know if we have made a difference?’ The workshop took place in South Africa in October 2012.
Guide: Resources, tools and information from Better Evaluation’s “Rainbow Framework”
by Better EvaluationThe ‘Rainbow’ framework guides the reader through a series of key questions to systematically look at all the issues involved when planning an evaluation.
Guide: Auditing Community Participation: an assessment Handbook
by Danny Burns and Marilyn TaylorDeveloped for engagement in community regeneration in the UK, Auditing Community Participation looks at ways of assessing levels of community involvement in area regeneration initiatives.
Guide: Ingenious Evaluation Toolkit
by Royal Academy of EngineeringA guide to evaluation of public engagement developed by the Royal Academy of Engineers, UK. Whilst not specific to health and community engagement it is a useful starting point to those looking to evaluate any engagement project.
Guide: Manchester Beacon Public Engagement Evaluation guide
by Manchester Beacon/Sally FortA guide to evaluating public engagement events, with a focus on events and research dissemination rather than more concerted community engagement.
A comprehensive guide to theory of change which can be used as a valuable tool for evaluating community engagement projects.
Guide: Developmental Evaluation - A Practitioners' Guide
by Elizabeth Dozois, Marc Langlois, Natasha Blanchet-CohenA guide to developmental evaluation.
Guide: Developmental Evaluation - A Mesh Introduction
by Mesh Editorial TeamA Mesh introduction to developmental evaluation. An evaluation approach used when it isn’t clear at the start of a project which intervention is the most appropriate and what aspects of the context are most important to address.
Discussions about Realist Evaluation
by Geoff WongIntroduction to a realist evaluation discussion list for those working with realist evaluation. Realist Evaluation can be a valuable tool to evaluate community engagement projects.
Literature: Realist Evaluation: Key Books
by Mesh Editorial TeamIntroduction to two influential introductory texts on Realist Evaluation: Realistic Evaluation and The Science of Evaluation: a realist manifesto. Realist evaluation can be used to effectively evaluate community engagement activities.
Guide: Evaluating your Social Media Presence (community radio toolkit)
by Community Radio ToolkitA clear and accessible introduction to evaluation of social media linked to community radio initiatives but with wider application.
Published Literature: Future Connect: a review of social networking today, tomorrow and beyond, and the challenge or HIV Communicators
by Pete Cranston and Tim Davies et al.An extensive introduction to the growing and changing role of social media in communication with an emphasis on developing country experience.
A blog post from Kissmetrics describing how best to get started with social media measurement. Whilst primarily business and Northern focused this post nevertheless clearly explains the general steps of how to evaluate social media and incudes links to social media tracking tools that are useful for CE activities using social media.
Evaluating Social Media - A Mesh Introduction
by Mesh Editorial TeamA Mesh introduction to evaluating projects that engage communities through social media.
Bibliography of Network Analysis Software for Evaluation
by Rick DaviesThis annotated bibliography is a useful tool for those looking to analyse and visualise networks as a way to evaluate community engagement projects.
Guide: Netmap Toolbox for Participatory Networking Mapping
by Eva SchifferA tookit and guide to participatory methods for collectively visualising and analysing networks for planning and evaluation purposes.
Network Based Approaches to Evaluation - A Mesh introduction
by Mesh Editorial TeamA Mesh introduction to network based approaches to evaluation which focus on changes in relationships and networks as a key outcome of interest.
A practical guide including clear step by step explanations of how to develop a theory of change for an organisation or project
The Role of Volunteering in Sustainable Development (2015)
by Institute of Development StudiesThis case study acts as an example of using participatory system inquiry and systemic action research to evaluate complex projects.
Literature: Assessing Impact in Dynamic and Complex Environments: Systemic Action Research and Participatory System Inquiry (2014)
by Danny BurnsShort paper exploring systemic action research and participatory system inquiry as approaches to assessing impact in social programmes and initiatives.
Participatory System Inquiry and Systemic Action Research - A Mesh Introduction
by Mesh Editorial TeamAn introduction to Participatory System Inquiry and Systemic Action Research and their use in evaluating community engagement.
This resource presents a list of useful websites and discussion forums on evaluation.
Guide: Evaluation Toolbox: Community sustainability engagement
by The Evaluation ToolboxIntroduction to one-stop site for evaluation of community sustainability engagement projects.
Guide: Evaluating your Engagement Activities: Developing an evaluation plan
by Manchester University/Suzanne SpicerAn introduction to the Manchester University (UK) Guide to evaluating engagement.
Guide: Evaluation Practical Guidelines: A guide for evaluating public engagement activities
by Research Councils UKIntroduction to RCUK's Evaluation of Engagement guide.
Literature: Who Counts? The power of participatory statistics
by Jeremy Holland, 2013 Practical Action Publishing, Rugby, UKAn introduction to the book Who Counts? The power of participatory statistics and some of the case studies within it.
Participatory Statistics - A Mesh Introduction
by Mesh Editorial TeamAn introduction to the use of Participatory Statistics for evaluating engagement.
Realist Evaluation - A Mesh Introduction
by Mesh Editorial TeamAn Introduction to Realist Evaluation, a valuable method for addressing the complexity of social programmes.
Theory of Change - A Mesh Introduction
by Mesh Editorial TeamAn introduction to what is meant by a Theory of Change in evaluation.
Complexity Theory - A Mesh Introduction
by Mesh Editorial TeamAn introduction to Complexity Theory, a theory from which a number of evaluation methods draw.
Most Significant Change (Stories of Impact) - A Mesh Introduction
by Mesh Editorial TeamAn introduction to Most Significant Change, a qualitative and participatory monitoring and evaluation approach that uses stories of change to assess the impact of projects and programmes.
Outcome Mapping - A Mesh Introduction
by Mesh Editorial TeamOutcome Mapping is a planning, monitoring and evaluation approach that is particularly helpful for evaluating multi-stakeholder projects. It seeks to assess the contribution of a project to changes in the relationships and behaviour of those it comes into direct contact with and has influence over. This page gives a brief introduction to the 'Outcome Mapping' evaluation approach, with links to the Outcome Mapping manual, the Outcome Mapping Learning community, some introductory presentations and videos, and case studies.
Qualitative Comparative Analysis - A Mesh Introduction
by Mesh Editorial TeamAn introduction to Qualitative Comparative Analysis, an approach for systematic comparison of cases.
Evaluation Case Studies - A Mesh Introduction
by Mesh Editorial TeamAn Introduction to Evalutaion Case Studies.
Case studies and tools for evaluating community engagement activities that engage through the arts.
Benchmarks for quality of community dance projects
by Ken BartlettA summary of research and consultation with the community dance sector in the UK designed to address the ‘quality’ of artistic practice, and highlight the criteria that people were using in practice in their work, rather than seeking to define a prescriptive evaluation approach.
Literature: Insight and Exchange: An evaluation of the Wellcome Trust’s Sciart programme
by Wellcome TrustEvaluation report from the Wellcome Trust's Sciart funding programme
Global Food Matters: An appetite for engaging with research (Wellcome Trust International Engagement workshop report, Botswana 2015)
by Wellcome TrustWorkshop Report: Discussion on the ethical, social and cultural issues that surround research into food, health and the environment as well as the best ways of producing activities that inform, consult and collaborate with communities.