What is meant by 'program evaluation'?

Program evaluation is a systematic process designed to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of a program. This includes examining whether the program is meeting its stated goals and objectives, how well it utilizes resources, and what outcomes it is producing. By focusing on both effectiveness—how well the program achieves its intended results—and efficiency—how well it uses resources to achieve those results—program evaluation provides valuable insights that can guide decision-making, improve program design, and demonstrate accountability to stakeholders.

In this context, the other choices reflect narrower aspects of program management but do not capture the comprehensive nature of program evaluation. For example, financial auditing is just one component of overall program management and does not assess all relevant aspects of a program’s performance. Focusing solely on participant satisfaction overlooks other critical factors such as program outcomes and impacts. Monitoring event attendance provides limited insight into program quality and effectiveness, as attendance does not necessarily correlate with the achievement of program goals. Thus, the definition encompassing assessment of both effectiveness and efficiency is the most accurate and comprehensive understanding of program evaluation.