Conference Strands

New Methods

Evaluation thrives when methods evolve. From established approaches to emerging tools and the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence, the aim is that this conference allows us to examine how technology and innovation can enhance rigor, relevance, and impact which is critical to strong democracies. Simultaneously allowing space for the exploration into adaptive, inclusive, and future-oriented methods that are relevant to the transformation into, and thereafter sustainability of, better societies.

Systemic Learning

Complex societal challenges demand more than isolated interventions. Therefore this conference will allow us to explore system-level approaches that drive transformational change, and how evaluators can navigate complexity while maintaining accountability and learning which is critical to healthy democracies.

Responsiveness

Democracies are dynamic - and so is evaluation. Responsiveness means listening to stakeholders, adapting to shifting contexts, embracing diversity, and empowering voices often left unheard. This is key to making evaluation relevant and actionable in today’s world.

Evaluating democracy support when the stakes are high: Methods, accountability, and learning in complex, politicized and fragile contexts

Claire LeBlanc, NIRAS
Dima Issa, NIRAS
Kai Brand-Jacobsen, Norwegian Development Cooperation (NORAD)
Lydeke Schakel, European Endowment For Democracy (EED)
Olga Mrinska, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
Raphaëlle Bisiaux, NIRAS
Rebekah Usatin, National Endowment for Democracy (NED)

Evaluating Philanthropy in Context: Relational Dynamics, Accountability, and Institutional Environments
Jaroslav Dvorak, Klaipeda University
Tomasz Kupiec, University of Warsaw
Evaluation for Transformative Democratic Futures: Addressing the polycrisis through systemic learning, power shifts and regeneration.

Ian Goldman
May Pettigrew, EES

Evaluation Professionalization at the Intersection of Democracy and the Polycrisis  
Re-thinking Evaluation Professionalism for Vibrant Democracies: Ethics, Values, and Systemic Capacity in Institutions 

Aida El Khoury de Paula                                                                    Catherine Namande, Africa Evaluation Association (AfrEA)
Daniel Svoboda, Czech Evaluation Society
Dugan Fraser,
Gabriel Keney, St Francis University                                         
Glenn O'neil, Owl RE
John LaVelle, American Journal of Evaluation
Monika Bartosiewicz-Niziołek, Polish Evaluation Society
Patricia Rogers, Patricia Rogers and Associates
Vicent Ssenyondo, Africa Evaluation Association (AfrEA)

Evaluation, Democracy and Bias in an AI-shaped, Sustainability-focused Development World

Ananda Millard, Policy Research Institute
Tom Ling, RAND

Evaluations of, for, and in Transitions

Charlotte Halpern, Sciences Po
Thomas Delahais, Quadrant Conseil

Evidence for Climate and Environmental Action (E4CA): Evaluating What Works in Climate Mitigation and Adaptation, as well as in Environmental Sustainability. 

Geeta Baatra
Sven Harten, German Institute for Development Evaluation

From instruments to systems: Evaluating the private sector’s increasing role in development, climate and market transformation

José Carbajo
Miriam Amine

From principles to practice: a shared framework for responsive evaluation

Claudio Alberti, OECD, Development Co-operation Directorate
Megan Grace Kennedy Chouane, OECD, Development Co-operation Directorate

 

How is emerging artificial intelligence intersecting with evaluation and democracy? Towards new practice and adoption

Alix De Saint-albin, Pluricité
Bianca Montrosse-moorhead, University Of Connecticut
Linda Raftree, MERL Tech Initiative (MTI)
Steffen Bohni Nielsen, National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NFA)

Learning, Equity, and Innovation in EU Policy Evaluation: Methods and Practice for Vibrant Democracies

Bridget Dillon, DDA
Joanna Hofman, Ipsos UK
Oto Potluka, University of Basel

Rebalancing Power: Feminist and Decolonial Pathways to Democratic Evaluation

Jaynie Vonk, Oxfam Novib
Petra Novakova, EES
Karen Biesbrouck, Oxfam Novib
Svetlana Negroustoueva, CGIAR – Independent Evaluation Function

When the world changes, evaluation must change too: Systems Thinking for changing mindsets, methods, and institutions. [TWG 8 Strand proposal]

Emanuela Carta, Verian
Liliana Olivia Lucaciu, TWG8