The Evaluation of Peru Solar 2010

There is no universal law which dictates that good intentions will result in positive outcomes. In fact, examples can be found throughout history, and most certainly in our own lives, where ambitions to do “good” have resulted in unforeseen negative consequences. Arguably, the expectation that one’s actions will positively benefit another often hinders their ability to fully analyze the outcome of their efforts.

It is of utmost importance to NuSol Capacity Fund that our efforts create positive change, as defined by the communities in which we work. Extensive involvement and interaction with community members, responsible and appropriate use of technology, and thorough analysis of project outcomes are just a few of the measures we take to ensure this goal is realized.

As part of this process, in July of 2011, NuSol sent a team of individuals to the community of Nueva Unión to perform an in-depth analysis of the effects and outcomes of the solar installation completed 6 months prior.  When conducting this study, NuSol applied best practices from the field of program evaluation pertaining specifically to rural electrification and sustainable development. A report that establishes this methodology can be found online in the University of Washington’s Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs Degree Project Archive or by clicking on the link below:

Evaluation Guidelines (Click here)

Overall, the results of the study provided very positive feedback. The solar electric system is functioning as designed and the people of Nueva Union have adapted quite well to the changes this technology has made in their lives. While we were pleased to see these successes, from a program development perspective, we were equally excited to learn from our mistakes. By evaluating and critiquing our efforts, we've gained an incisive look at the real world performance of our project design and implementation strategy. This analysis provides the basis from which future program and design improvements will be made. We invite you to view the evaluation document in its entirety by clicking on the link below:

Nueva Union Evaluation Download (Click here)

In addition to ensuring the sustainability and success of our projects and our organization, we view evaluations such as this as an informal internal audit to ensure we are effectively and efficiently using the resources which our donors have so generously provided during these hard economic times. We are very thankful for everyones support and we'll continue to make sure every dollar is spent wisely.

If you have any questions about this evaluation, or other NuSol projects, please feel free to contact us.

For a brighter future,

The NuSol team