Wicked Problems: Peacebuilding Evaluation Ethics, Determining What is Good and Right

The purpose of this briefing paper is to support evaluators in producing good evaluations by helping to think about values and ethics consciously and carefully. To do this, we’ll first look at the relationship between ethics and evaluation. We will then look at the big picture of what constitutes “good peacebuilding” or peacebuilding “done right.” We will also explore ethical issues involved in who determines the values and criteria by which we judge programs. And, finally, we will explore ethical issues involved in how evaluations are conducted – an area of which there tends to be more developed guidance available. The paper concludes with additional resource material for further exploration.