Moderator
- Isabelle Mercier, UNDP IEO, Director
Panelists
- Baoyin Huang, University of International Business and Economics, China
- Candice Morkel, Centre for Learning on Evaluation and Results (CLEAR) Anglophone Africa, South Africa Director
- Sanjeev Sridharan, University of Hawaii at Manoa, United States of America, Professor of Health Policy Evaluation
- Silvia Grandi, Evaluation Division, Global Affairs Canada, Canada Deputy Director
Exploratory Statement
Knowledge is linked to social, political, historical and cultural context. For evaluation systems to drive action, they must grapple with complex contexts, navigate institutional dynamics and address power structures that hinder SDG progress.
Discussion Themes
- Inclusion is not just about representation; it involves fundamentally changing how knowledge is produced and valued in order to empower local voices.
- Authentic inclusion in evaluation requires the genuine involvement of local voices, with continuous adaptation to community needs and respect for diverse perspectives. Avoiding ‘epistemic injustice’, or the imposition of external views, is crucial for evaluations rooted in humility and respect.
- Standardized methods can lead to ‘window dressing’ rather than meaningful participation, as they often ignore local context and diverse perspectives. Truly inclusive evaluations must prioritize equity and directly address systemic inequities.
- Strengthening country-led evaluation systems and aligning external evaluations with local contexts supports the decolonization of evaluation, reducing dependency on foreign standards and fostering locally relevant methods.
Initiatives such as the Women’s Voice and Leadership Program, in Canada, and Dancing with Parkinson’s, in the United States, highlight inclusive evaluation in practice. These programmes adapted to meet local needs, from offering child-care support to shifting to online sessions during COVID-19, demonstrating flexibility and prioritizing social connection alongside traditional goals.
To remain relevant, evaluation systems must continually adapt to the complexity of real-world contexts and respond to the unique needs of each community involved.
“Rigidity in evaluation frameworks can lead to symbolic inclusion. Inclusion must move beyond superficial practices to address power dynamics and ensure participation is meaningful.”
CLEAR Anglophone Africa
“Why would criteria set in North America or Europe determine what matters in the Pacific Islands? Evaluations must respect context and integrate diverse evaluation criteria.”
University of Hawaii
“Inclusion is not just representation; it’s about shifting power and promoting ownership of evaluation processes by local stakeholders.”
Global Affairs Canada
