An electronic network - or list server or discussion list - is a virtual network where people from all over the world can write electronic messages (e-mail) to discuss and exchange opinions, ideas and experiences about topics and issues of common interest. It's a very practical, economic and effective way to always stay up-to-date with what is going on in other organization and countries. Generally, academics, officers of national and international organizations, independent experts and people interested in the issue are members of these networks. To join one of the following selected international networks on evaluation and management you DO NOT need to be an expert in computer or in the topics discussed. You can be a passive member (you only receive messages, but you are not obliged to reply) and you just need to have access to e-mail. You don't have to pay any subscription fee to become a member of one of the following networks.
Experts de la Francophonie
This list server has been launched by the Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie in 2003 in order to bring together experts in M&E from all State members of the Francophonie and disseminate a range of call for appl. If you are a French-speaking evaluators living and working in one of these member States and if you wish to join this list server, please contact Ms Isabelle Sannie, Evaluation Manager, Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie, at : isabelle.sannie@francophonie.org
An open, unmoderated list for general discussion of evaluation and associated issues sponsored by the American Evaluation Association.
EVALTALK was established to provide a vehicle for open discussions concerning evaluation issues. Although sponsored by the American Evaluation Association (AEA), the list is open for use by anyone.
To subscribe to EVALTALK, send e-mail to listserv@bama.ua.edu.. The body of the message should read:
SUBSCRIBE EVALTALK FirstName LastName
Replace the terms FirstName and LastName with your first and last names. You will be automatically added to the list and will be sent a copy of the current information file. If you do not receive an acknowledgement from EVALTALK within a reasonable time, check with your local computer resource personnel to see if your local mailer provided your valid e-mail address on submissions to LISTSERV. If you still cannot subscribe, send a request explaining the problem to kbolland@bamaed.ua.edu (the Evaluation and Assessment Laboratory at The University of Alabama). Be sure to include your correct e-mail address in the request.
XC-EVAL is a network of evaluators
and researchers interested in developing country and cross-cultural issues.
We are an informal discussion group with the following objectives, core areas
of interest, and types of participants.
Objectives: The main purpose of this network is knowledge and information sharing. We aim to provide a forum to facilitate and stimulate debate, discussion and problem solving. We also wish to provide a tool, especially for Third World members, to access information on our core areas of interest which they might otherwise find difficult to obtain. At the same time, the network will enable developed country members to contact people in the field working on their areas of interest, provide a window on the problems being faced, and encourage participation in finding solutions.
Core Areas of Interest: Our core umbrella topics are evaluation and research issues with a developing country or cross-cultural dimension. We also provide a forum for broadcasting conference and training opportunity announcements, as well as requirements for consultancy services in these areas. Recent postings have also included the following: the broadcasting of study plans and protocols for peer review; exchanges of information between countries in assessing the relative risks of child mortality from vertically transmitted HIV and (lack of) breastfeeding; problems in administering survey questionnaires to nomadic populations in areas with security problems (an oasis in Somalia may be mined); refugee epidemiology; and evaluation of post-conflict orphan reunification programs.
Types of Participants: We are an inclusive network, open to anyone who is interested and has access to e-mail services. We have no institutional affiliation and all members are members in their own personal right, rather than as members or employees of any institution or organization. Our membership is growing rapidly and the composition may change somewhat over time. Currently, about three-quarters of us are working in the Third World in an evaluation or research capacity. Institutionally, our membership is roughly equally divided between United Nations organizations, especially UNICEF, non-governmental organizations, universities, and research institutes.
XC-EVAL is based at Western Michigan University, home of The Evaluation Center. The following is a brief description of the commands that the mailserver implements:
Subscribe: In order to subscribe
to XC-EVAL, send a message
saying: "SUBSCRIBE XC-EVAL firstname lastname" to the following address:
mailserv@listserv.cc.wmich.edu
To send a message to all the people currently subscribed to the list, just send mail to EGAD@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU. This is called "sending mail to the list", because you send mail to a single address and LISTSERV makes copies for all the people who have subscribed. This address (egad@listserv.arizona.edu) is also called the "list address". You must never try to send any command to that address, as it would be distributed to all the people who have subscribed. All commands must be sent to the "LISTSERV address", listserv@listserv.arizona.edu.