Sustainability Evaluation

Sustainability is a buzz word these days. It permeates many levels of human activity and is manifest on human, social, economic, and environmental dimensions. Yet, definitions are often unclear and poorly conceptualized. This text identifies two distinct perspectives for evaluating sustainability. The first is concerned with micro-level concerns related to the continuation of programs, policies, and other types of human action. The second takes a macro level perspective concerned with sustaining human, social, and economic development under consideration of protecting the environment. It is argued that sustainability evaluation should capture both. A new evaluation tool, the -Sustainability Evaluation Checklist- (SEC), is introduced to bridge the gap between both perspectives. The tool is divided into two parts. The first elaborates on general considerations in evaluation, while the second emphasizes sustainability concerns specifically. The SEC-s accuracy and usefulness was assessed by experts and practitioners who provided critical reactions to the draft checklist-s accuracy, its potential, and usefulness for evaluating sustainability.

Daniela Schröter is the Director of Research in The EvaluationCenter at Western Michigan University. In addition tosustainability evaluation, her interests include evaluationtheory, methodology, practice, and capacity building ininstitutional, international, and sustainable development contexts.