Using Appreciative Inquiry in Evaluation of Training Programs: World Bank Institute

In the fall of 2000, the World Bank Institute (WBI) presented a challenging evaluation task to EnCompass–to develop an evaluation methodology for its two primary training programs. WBI training programs were under increasing pressure to demonstrate results from both the internal evaluation unit and external donors. The desired outcomes of the training programs, however, had not been clearly defined and some of the workshop managers were hesitant to commit to the evaluation process. The evaluation team approached this set of challenges by incorporating Appreciative Inquiry methods throughout the evaluation project. In this way, the evaluators were able to deliver an effective and useful methodology, engage the system in the evaluation process and instill a broad commitment to evaluation and to Appreciative Inquiry.