Geography’s Contributions to Evaluation in International Development and Environment

By : Anupam Anand

Page No: 422-438

Abstract
As international development and environmental initiatives increasingly encounter intricate socio-ecological issues, the field of evaluation must evolve commensurately. Geography, as a multidisciplinary field bridging the natural and social sciences, provides evaluative frameworks characterised by spatial sensitivity, methodological diversity, and theoretical depth. This paper examines the contributions of geographic concepts, methodologies, and theoretical constructs to evaluation practices within development and environmental programs. Utilising illustrations from diverse sectors, including conservation, disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, rural development, and urban planning; it demonstrates how geographic expertise enhances evaluation through techniques such as spatial analysis, place-based contextualisation, participatory mapping, systems thinking, and a focus on power dynamics and equity. The paper concludes by identifying potential avenues and existing challenges for the more comprehensive integration of geographical approaches into the evaluation protocols of global development institutions.

Author
Anupam Anand: Senior Evaluation Officer, GEF IEO, World Bank Group, Washington, DC.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/ATNAGI.2025.45.02.12