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Output to Purpose Review

Output to Purpose Review of the Mobilising Knowledge for Development Programme 2007

The Mobilising Knowledge for Development Programme (MK4D) brings together five of the IDS Knowledge Services with a joint aim to reduce global poverty and injustice by supporting more informed decision making by those in a position to influence change. It is funded by DFID and comprises of:

  • The British Library for Development Studies (BLDS) - a large specialist library on social and economic aspects of development based at IDS
  • BRIDGE – a gender and development research and communications service supporting gender advocacy and mainstreaming efforts
  • Eldis – a gateway to online development information
  • id21 – a research reporting service aimed at policy makers and practitioners worldwide
  • Livelihoods Connect – a learning platform focusing on sustainable livelihood approaches to poverty reduction

In 2007 an independent Output to Purpose Review (OPR) of the MK4D programme was undertaken by ITAD. The OPR aimed to inform decisions about future funding, and inform the IDS Information Department’s own strategic review.

Evaluation of Eldis 2007

Eldis is an internet based information service that filters, structures and presents development information via the web, email and offline products. It receives funding from the Department for International Development (DFID) under the Mobilising Knowledge For Development Programme (MK4D), and from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. After 10 years, Eldis’ donors requested a significant external independent evaluation of the service, the purpose of which was accountability to its donors, to link with the parallel MK4D review, and to assist with decision-making about further funding (donors) and operation (IDS). Both evaluations will also feed into IDS’s own reflection and learning about its Knowledge Services.

The Eldis evaluation was carried out by ITAD and was guided by the OECD/DAC evaluation criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact. It built on interviews and information collected by IDS and visits to users in Malawi, Tanzania and Bangladesh.