Final answer:
A disadvantage of participatory evaluation is the requirement to establish trust among all stakeholders, which can be challenging and time-consuming. This process is intricate and necessitates buy-in from all participants to balance power dynamics and foster strong relationships for substantive collaboration.
Step-by-step explanation:
One disadvantage of participatory evaluation is that it requires trust to be established among all involved. In the context of transformative participatory evaluations (T-PE), it is designed to empower individuals who traditionally have limited access to power, aligning well with principles like 'consumer choice' in a Housing First program philosophy.
However, establishing trust is critical and can be challenging due to power differentials and the need for buy-in from all parties, including program staff and clients. Effective participatory evaluations also focus on building strong relationships, which necessitate consistent collaboration and communication, often requiring a significant time commitment that may not be feasible in certain contexts.
Moreover, participatory evaluations can be hindered by systemic issues such as frequent staff turnovers or difficulties in accessing program data. Clients may face challenges in engaging meaningfully with the evaluation process, especially those from marginalized groups who may experience anxiety or hesitation about their contributions.
An important aspect of this evaluation approach is the mutual learning that takes place among all partners, but this too can be threatened by factors such as limited resource availability for long-term follow-ups or the challenges of balancing power among diverse stakeholders.