Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at jmbillson@gdiworld.com
if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Why talk to people? Why are focus groups and individual interviews so important to understanding our world? Because people and the communities they belong to are the experts on their own lives.

How do you know that your efforts are achieving the intended results? GDI has over 30 years of experience in evaluating programs, conferences, and workshops all around the globe. We will help you maximize program effectiveness and meet evaluation requirements through comprehensive mid-point monitoring and final evaluation. In addition, using guided interviews, focus groups and surveys, we can do pre-test and post-test measurements to identify critical impacts. We can gather reliable feedback from stakeholders, implementers, and clients on strengths and challenges that reside in any program. Our evaluations have led to significant improvements in deliverables, from fine-tuning of materials to major restructuring of programs.

How do you know what clients and stakeholders need to agilely meet their goals?

Is MID-POINT MONITORING worth the time, resources, and effort?

Examples of GDI's Contribution to Evaluation Research

Group of professionals at a conference table

Dr. Billson speaking on data analysis at the European Union.

Social Policy Analysis

From implementation of the World Bank's resettlement policy to the impact of hospital restructuring on nurses, GDI has examined complex issues with social science expertise. For this type of research, we use "triangulation" of methods (mixed methods), as appropriate, but especially focus groups, individual interviews, surveys, and analysis of existing data and organizational reports.

NEEDS ASSESSMENTS How do you know what clients and stakeholders need? What are their interests? What services and supports do they receive from other organizations? What services are falling between the cracks? GDI carefully explores constituent needs so that you can target programs, messages, and materials for greatest effectiveness. A good needs assessment leads to realistic organizational priorities.

Audience attending a focus group seminar.

Dr. Billson speaking on evaluation results, meeting, Czech Ministry of Evaluation

Group discussion with engaged participants

“Train the Trainer” Workshop, Czech Evaluation Society, Prague

Examples of GDI's Reports...

  • Engagement with GLOBAL CSOs, World Bank Education Specialists, IFC Management and Education Sector Staff, and Global Education Experts
  • World Bank Gender Strategy Mid-Term Review: Key Informant and Focus Group Interview Results
  • Strengthening Evaluation to Improve Development Results (Inter-American Development Bank)
  • Minority Perceptions of Rhode Island's Court System (RI Supreme Court, Permanent Committee on Women and Minorities)
  • Evaluation of UNESCAP's program to support Asian and Pacific countries in achieving the MDGs
  • “Review of the Women’s Rights and Citizenship Program Research Agenda—Latin America and the Caribbean, South/Southeast Asia, Middle East and North Africa,” International Development Research Centre (Canada)
  • Evaluations of university programs to facilitate transition to higher education (or college to graduate school) for minority and underserved populations (Harvard University, Brown University, etc.)