Adding Value to Evaluations : Applying the Governmental Learning Spiral for Evaluation-Based Learning

Governmental learning has a multidisciplinary research tradition and a plethora of literature exists on organizational as well as policy learning. Different concepts for structured learning from evaluation results on the governmental level exist. It is common to all that they depend on a careful selection of participants and that the political, cultural, and institutional environment is key to the ultimate success of many governmental learning activities. Policy learning can be fostered by various types of organized activities, which range from peer review frameworks often focused on accountability to international learning processes based on concepts like the governmental learning spiral. This paper discusses and analyzes four examples of evaluation-based governmental learning organized in the framework of the World Bank. This contribution will reflect on different streams of learning theories for the governmental level, as they represent assumptions and motivations for organized learning in governments. The governmental learning spiral, an eight-stage approach to learning from evaluation, is presented, including in the case studies. This article will conclude by reflecting on the concept of the governmental learning spiral and its relation to different levels of learning. This paper is organized as follows: chapter one is introduction; chapter two gives learning theories for the governmental level; chapter three presents concept of the governmental learning spiral; chapter four gives four case studies; chapter five presents lessons; and chapter six presents outlook.