Lessons learnt from an evalaution of an unexploded ordnance removal program in Lao PDR

The purpose of this article is to describe lessons learnt when the first author, an ‘outsider’, was undertaking a theory-based, mixed-methods evaluation of an unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance program in Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR). The lessons learnt comprised: 1) issues related to using a theory-based mixed-methods evaluation design; 2) contextualising languages, meaning and translation; and 3) cultural interpretation of ethical issues. Finally, it is proposed that reflexivity is an essential quality that evaluators need to develop in order to manage such challenges