Failure of CUSO International to properly evaluate its 2 projects worth $7.5 Million episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 17, 2025 · 51 MIN

Failure of CUSO International to properly evaluate its 2 projects worth $7.5 Million

from Improving Development Evaluation

Please sign the petition here https://www.change.org/EvaluateCanadaAid to have the Government of Canada require all Canadian taxpayer funded international development organizations release on their websites their Performance Measurement Frameworks (PMFs) or its equivalent and data for all output and outcome indicators listed in the PMF. CUSO International (www.cusointernational.org) has failed to properly measure and evaluate its 2 projects costing the Canadian taxpayer $7.5 Million. CUSO International cannot make the claim that it has achieved its outcomes for their 2 projects. This is based upon a review and critique of the Performance Measurement Frameworks (PMFs) for these 2 projects. This critique is explained for each outcome and outcome indicator from these 2 PMFs in this episode. These PMFs and PMF critique can be requested by emailing [email protected] on these 2 CUSO International projects is available here: Blueprints for Gender Equality https://w05.international.gc.ca/projectbrowser-banqueprojets/project-projet/details/p010478001 and Building Bricks Caribbean https://w05.international.gc.ca/projectbrowser-banqueprojets/project-projet/details/p013586001For the Blueprints for Gender Equality CUSO International project, the PMF had 9 Outcomes with 13 Outcome Indicators. Only 1 of those Outcome Indicators was properly designed to support the claim that the Outcome was achieved. Even if it was achieved, no data was provided to support that claim. The remaining 12 poorly designed Outcome Indicators were poorly designed due to either self-reporting bias or conflict of interest when an external consultant should have been used instead to objectively measure whether the outcome was achieved. They used an external consultant for the 1 good Outcome Indicator but oddly refused to do it for the other Outcome Indicators!! Other poorly designed Outcome Indicators were due to measures that had nothing to do with whether the Outcome was achieved.For the Building Bricks CUSO International project, the PMF had 8 Outcomes and 15 Outcome Indicators. 4 of those Outcome Indicators were properly designed to support the claim that some of the Outcomes were achieved. Even if they were achieved, no data was provided to support that claim. The remaining 11 poorly designed Outcome Indicators were poorly designed due to either self-reporting bias or due to measures that had nothing to do with whether the Outcome was achieved.CUSO International has been invited to attend the podcast to provide a response to this critique of their project PMFs. The PMF critique and PMFs have been sent to CUSO International as well as the Secretary of State for International Development and the shadow critics for International Development.For a 20/15% discount on sunhats, sunglasses, and cotton polo shirts when visiting the Global South use this discount link: https://mydeals.page/1hjlDonate here: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/ZAQD8888DEDXLOr at buymeacoffee.com/davidwand to help the podcast

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Failure of CUSO International to properly evaluate its 2 projects worth $7.5 Million

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