Course for mentor in the sector of eco-industry

As multiple stakeholders are involved in evaluation, you must carefully consider how the information and findings you share with the stakeholders, including your evaluator, can be used (or misused). Therefore, you should ensure that the data you collect for the evaluation cannot be taken out of context or misconstrued. If you have a designated evaluator, you should work with him or her on this issue.
The first step in the process of identifying and engaging stakeholders is to answer the question:

You should consider who is interested in learning about the evaluation of the programme, and identify who is interested in the answers to questions such as:

• Is the mentoring programme as planned? Who stands to benefit or lose from the way the programme is run?
• Are the participants benefiting from programme implementation, as desired?
• Who stands to benefit or lose if they do or do not?
• Is the mentoring programme making an impact? Who stands to benefit or lose if it does or does not make an impact?
• Might the results affect policies? Who stands to benefit or lose if it does or does not?

Consideration of Different Types of Stakeholders
The following table may help identify stakeholder needs for the mentoring programme in your organisation.

Stakeholders	Why are they interested in learning about how your programme is doing?
Funding bodies	They want to know if their investments were put to good use. If the mentoring programme is not reaching expectations, they would want to know why and make decisions about continuing to fund the programme or building the program's capacity (or not) based on the findings.
Programme Staff	They want to know if they are doing their work properly and if they are bringing about positive changes to the mentees, as set out in the mentoring plan. If not, they would want to use the information to improve their programme.
Board members	They want to learn about the progress of the programme and the impact it is making (or not) to their employees (mentees). If it is having an impact, they would want to use this information for their fundraising efforts. If not, they would want to address the issues the programme is facing.
Programme participants	The mentees want to tell you if and how the programme is helping them meet their career goals. They want to know if the findings match what they experienced. If not, they would want to help the programme capture more accurately the outcomes they experienced.

Use of Evaluation by Different Types of Stakeholders
Different stakeholders probably would use evaluation for different purposes, producing certain
benefits but also potential risks that could be avoided if you had a strategy to deal with them first.
The following table provides general examples to help you think through the benefits and risks for each group and how you can avoid the risks, to the best of your ability, as every situation is different.

Benefits and Potential Risks of The Evaluation

Stakeholders Group	The evaluation results can help this group by . . .	The evaluation results can put this group at risk by . . .	To reduce the risks, you should . . .
Funding bodies	Demonstrating that the grants have been useful and used effectively.	Highlighting that the funding body may be funding grants that do not work, and funding may be withdrawn.	Engage the programme officers early on to understand what they consider success and discuss their information needs.
Programme Staff	Showing that their efforts in the programme have been making a difference.	Showing that their work has not been making a difference. This could lead to budget and possibly even staff cuts.	Work with the staff early on to ensure the evaluation questions align with resource requirements.
Board members	Identifying areas where the organisation is making a difference.	Identifying areas of weaknesses in the non-profit organisation's leadership, administrative and financial systems and day-to-day operations.	Engage board members in the design and implementation of the evaluation.
Mentees	Strengthening, continuing or expanding programs that they can continue to participate in and benefit from.	Eliminating opportunities afforded by the programs.	Engage them early on so they can envision what a successful mentoring programme looks like, and to show them what benefits there are for them if they participate.

Please take the time to complete a risk table, using table 2 as an example. You should work with each group of stakeholders to plan and take steps to prevent misunderstandings about the evaluation and misuse of the findings.