Evalitsust

Evalitsust is a term used in Estonian-language discourse to describe the systematic assessment of a program, policy, project, or process. The goal is to determine relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability, and to produce evidence-based recommendations for decision-making. In standard Estonian, the noun is evalitsus and evalitsust is a common inflected form used in sentences.

Etymology and relation to other terms: The term is derived from Latin evaluatio and is related to the broader concept of evaluation. It is often used alongside hindamine (the more general Estonian word for assessment) and to international terms such as monitoring and evaluation (M&E).

Scope and forms: Evalitsust encompasses planning, data collection, analysis, and reporting. It can be formative, conducted during implementation to improve design, or summative, conducted at the end to judge outcomes. It may be internal or external depending on who conducts it and their independence.

Methods and standards: Common methods include surveys, interviews, focus groups, administrative data analysis, indicators, and theories of change. Good practice emphasizes clear objectives, ethical data collection, transparent methodology, and accessible reporting.

Applications and limitations: It is used by public agencies, NGOs, and international organizations to inform policy, allocate resources, and demonstrate accountability. Limits include bias, data quality gaps, attribution challenges, and privacy considerations.

See also: Evaluation; Monitoring and evaluation; Impact assessment; Program evaluation; Results-based management.