Evaluability Assessments (EAs): When To Do Them, And When Not To
October 2025
by Letitia Koen, LPN, BHSc., MSc student
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What is an EA?
According to the Eval Academy dictionary and Better Evaluation, Evaluability Assessments (EAs) are:
“a preparatory tool used before initiating a program evaluation” [1] and an assessment of
“the extent to which an intervention [or program or project] can be evaluated in a reliable and credible fashion”.[2]
Full evaluations can be lengthy, expensive, and resource-intensive, so they should only be undertaken if the program or project is ready and when the results will be credible, reliable, and used effectively. To increase the likelihood of such an evaluation, EAs can be performed before a full evaluation to determine if the program or project is ready. This involves examining the design, assessing the feasibility of data collection, and considering how the evaluation results will be applied. Essentially, EAs help verify that the program or project is well-defined, that appropriate data is available or that it can be obtained, that the evaluation findings will be useful, and that resources are used well.
There are several benefits, as well as some downsides, to conducting an EA:
When should you do an EA?
It’s important to know that not all programs or projects will benefit from an EA, and in some cases, conducting one can waste time and money, delay full evaluations, or duplicate existing knowledge. Knowing when to conduct an EA and when not to can help you make informed decisions about whether to proceed. Here are some key situations that can help determine when an EA should and should not be conducted:
Decisions
When you would like to determine if your program or project is ready for a full evaluation, but you don’t necessarily have the resources, time, and money for an EA, you could instead scan your program or project for “flags” to determine when to evaluate and when not to evaluate. For example, you should proceed with caution when data collection isn't possible (major flag), objectives are unclear (moderate flag), or when there is no intention to use the findings (moderate flag). This “evaluability scan” is much quicker and can also provide insightful direction about whether or not you should proceed with a full evaluation.
However, if you’ve considered the advantages and disadvantages of conducting an EA and decide to move forward, Public Health Ontario [3] has a great, evidence-based resource with a detailed, step-by-step guide for planning and executing an EA. There are also great resources (e.g., guides, webinars, and templates) available on Better Evaluation’s website.
In summary, EAs are an excellent tool that can help ensure a program or project is prepared for an evaluation and capable of producing meaningful results. When used, EAs can provide valuable insights, but they are not always necessary. Therefore, it is important to confirm that your program or project can genuinely benefit from an EA to avoid wasting valuable resources, time, and money. If you decide to proceed with an EA, be sure to check out other available tools and resources that can guide you through the process!
References
1. Three Hive Consulting. (2024, October 18). Evaluability assessment — Eval Academy. Eval Academy. https://www.evalacademy.com/eval-terms/evaluability-assessment
2. Evaluability assessment. (2021, December 17). Better Evaluation. https://www.betterevaluation.org/methods-approaches/themes/evaluability-assessment
3. Public Health Ontario. (2025). Evaluability Assessment: a step model (2nd ed.) [Research; PDF]. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/F/2018/focus-on-evaluability-assessment.pdf?rev=b2d838407964409fb0dcbd74bd806bd5&sc_lang=en&hash=14BF4C596210F594DE7B77166FEFF4FB