What is the Project Evaluation Tool?
The Project Evaluation Tool aims to assist in assessing the ethicality of development projects based on the 7 values of worthwhile development (listed on the right) created by Jay Drydyk in the Routledge Handbook of Development Ethics.
The project will be evaluated through the lens of each individual value using a letter grading scale where:
A = Superior
B = Sufficient
C = Developing
F = Failure
7 Values of Worthwhile Development
- Enhancement of people’s well-being
- Equitable sharing in benefits of development
- Empowerment to participate freely in development
- Environmental sustainability
- Promotion of human rights
- Promotion of cultural freedom, consistent with human rights
- Responsible conduct, including integrity over corruption
First, the number of indicators present in the project for each value is determined. This number is then applied to the grading scale, and the score for the specific value is decided accordingly. A project’s score for a particular value is considered Superior, Sufficient, Developing, or Failure. Below is a representation of the scale:
A
Superior
5 Indicators Checked
B
Sufficient
4 Indicators Checked
C
Developing
2-3 Indicators Checked
F
Failure
0-1 Indicators Checked
What are the Indicators for each value of worthwhile development?
Well-Being
The following indicators are considered when scoring projects based on the value of well-being
1.
Readily available access to essential goods including water, food, sanitation
2.
Readily available access to institutionalized goods including healthcare, education, sanitation
3.
Accessible income
4.
Self-Reported happiness
5.
Access to individual agency and autonomy
Equality
The following indicators are considered when scoring projects based on the value of equality
1.
Equal access to education
2.
Equal access to healthcare
3.
Equal access to housing
4.
Equal access to political participation
5.
Equal access to social participation
Empowerment
The following indicators are considered when scoring projects based on the value of empowerment
1.
Political representation
2.
transparent information flow
3.
freedom to make decisions without coercion
4.
self-reported autonomy
5.
government frameworks for protection of rights
Sustainability
The following indicators are considered when scoring projects based on the value of sustainability
1.
Presence of CO2 emissions thresholds
2.
Efforts to preserve biodiversity and ecosystems
3.
Sustainable food production
4.
Conservative natural resource usage
5.
Integration of renewable resources
Human Rights
The following indicators are considered when scoring projects based on the value of human rights
1.
Core set of freedoms guaranteed regardless of characteristics or status
2.
Others have obligations and duties to uphold the human right to life
3.
Right to standard level of living, health, and education
4.
Protections against discrimination
5.
Adherence to International Human Rights Treaties
Cultural Freedom
The following indicators are considered when scoring projects based on the value of cultural freedom
1.
Empowering individuals to freely participate in the development
2.
Protect and promote human rights
3.
promote the freedom to enjoy one’s culture in a way consistent with human rights
4.
Ability to participate in cultural practices
5.
Promote the protection of minority cultures against wholesale destruction
Responsibility
The following indicators are considered when scoring projects based on the value of responsibility
1.
Giving and receiving bilateral and multilateral aid
2.
Limited distortion of policies by high level leaders at the cost of public good
3.
Limited abuse of power by mid-level leaders in interactions with citizens
4.
Accountable use of public accommodations
5.
Transparent administrative proceedings
Here is an example of grading a project on the value of sustainability
Indicators that are present in the project have a checkmark
| Presence of CO2 emissions thresholds | Efforts to preserve biodiversity and ecosystems | Sustainable food production | Conservative natural resource usage | Integration of renewable resources |
 | | |
This project has 3 indicators checked, so it has an overall score of C for sustainability
C
Developing
2-3 Indicators Checked
Check out the case studies to see this tool in action!
Sources for Evaluation Indicators
Drydyk, Jay. 2018. Routledge Handbook of Development Ethics. Routledge.
Ingason H. & Jonasson H. 2018. Project ethics: The Critical Path to Project Success – applying an ethical risk assessment tool to a large infrastructure project. In: International Project Management Association, (ed.), International Project Management Association Research Conference 2017. Sydney: UTS ePRESS. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5130/pmrp.ipmarc2017.5639
Reijers, W., Wright, D., Brey, P. et al. Methods for Practising Ethics in Research and Innovation: A Literature Review, Critical Analysis and Recommendations. Sci Eng Ethics 24, 1437–1481 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-017-9961-8
Thomas, V. (2010). Evaluation Systems, Ethics, and Development Evaluation. American Journal of Evaluation, 31(4), 540-548. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098214010373648