Power, Proximity, and Tradeoffs in the International Evaluation Ecosystem

Thursday, October 12, 2023

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM ET

Location: Room 101

Facilitator(s)

AG

Alejandra Garcia, n/a

Independent Evaluator
Independent Evaluator, United States
AW

Alyna Wyatt, MA (she/her/hers)

Senior Advisor; Impact and Learning
BHP Foundation , Ontario, Canada
Holta Trandafili, MA (she/her/hers)

Sr. Research, Learning, and Analytics Manager
World Vision US, Maryland, United States
SD

Shama Dossa, Doctor of Philosophy

Feminist Manager Evaluation and Learning
Fenomenal Funds, United States
Norma Kok, Masters Degree in Public Health

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Lead
Citizen Leader Lab, Western Cape, South Africa
CD

Clara Desalvo, Master in Public Policy (she/her/hers)

Global Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager
FRIDA The Young Feminist Fund, New York, United States

Localizing evaluation practice has been a hot topic in the international evaluation space for several years. Even so, candid discussion of how localization interacts with our values and practices has been sparse. While most evaluators acknowledge the ethical imperative of more meaningful engagement with evaluators from the Majority World, discussions about how this shift relates to evaluation principles and practice remain. AEA’s International Working Group is hosting this Think Tank to provide a space for evaluators from across the international evaluation ecosystem to grapple with this topic. Facilitators will provide three principles for high-quality evaluation practice framed around (1) Cultural competence; (2) Rigor; and (3) Utilization. In small groups, participants will discuss how expanding local leadership interacts with each of these. Then, in line with a principles-focused approach, participants will consider how they can leverage their current roles to advance both local leadership and long-held principles of quality evaluation practice.