NOVADER Methodology Determining the Interview Questions and Assessing the Applications

Ever wondered why your applications don’t get accepted, even when you feel they’re perfect? At NOVADER, we use a transparent system to evaluate every application — and we’re sharing it with you here. Feel free to borrow it to prepare your own stronger applications elsewhere. We don’t disclose the actual scores, but the process is no secret.

According to NOVADER’s participation approach:

• QUANTITY Participants are not “scored” by numbers; instead, the sincerity, creativity, and level of engagement in their answers are observed.

• CONSISTENCY General questions ensure that everyone is evaluated on the same foundation.

• INDIVIDUALITY Personal questions acknowledge uniqueness and prevent the process from becoming mechanical.

This methodology developed organically from our practices in Caribbean project (Resilient Future) and has been codified here to ensure repeatability and accountability.

Evaluation Process

Here is what we do with your applications after you send them to us.

• Interviewers assign a score from 1 to 5 for each dimension.

• Each score is multiplied by its assigned weight to obtain the weighted score.

• All weighted scores are added together → Final Evaluation Score (out of 5).

• Giving higher weight to creativity, cultural participation, and teamwork ensures that these elements are prioritized in the selection process.

• Unless specifically requested, the evaluator is not required to share their scores with the participant or the committee.

For NOVADER Member Supervision Group

Evaluators may refer to the following matrix when making their assessments. The main focus will be on creativity, cultural participation, and teamwork, as these are central elements for the success of the project.