Conference Strands

General Conference Strands

S01_ 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.

S02_ 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.

S03_ 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.

Accepted Strands from Call A

Please note that some strands are currently being consolidated, and their descriptions will be updated constantly.

Last update: 24 March

S04_ Evaluating democracy, governance, and recovery support when the stakes are high: methods, accountability and learning in complex, fragile, politicized and conflict-affected contexts

Claire LeBlanc, NIRAS
Dima Issa, NIRAS
Kai Brand-Jacobsen, Norwegian Development Cooperation 
Lydeke Schakel, European Endowment For Democracy

Olga Mrinska, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Raphaëlle Bisiaux, NIRAS
Rebekah Usatin, National Endowment for Democracy

See description

S05_ Evaluating Philanthropy in Context: Relational Dynamics, Accountability, and Institutional Environments

Jaroslav Dvorak, Klaipeda University
Tomasz Kupiec, University of Warsaw

See description

S06_ Evaluation for Transformative Democratic Futures: Addressing the polycrisis through systemic learning, power shifts and regeneration.

Ian Goldman, International Evaluation Academy
May Pettigrew, EES

See description

S07_ Re-thinking Evaluation Professionalism for Vibrant Democracies: Ethics, Values, and Systemic Capacity in Institutions 

Aida El Khoury de Paula, Independent consultant
Glenn O'neil, Owl RE

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S08_ Evaluation, Democracy and Bias in an AI-shaped, Sustainability-focused Development World

Ananda Millard, Policy Research Institute
Tom Ling, RAND

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S09_ 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

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S10_ Evaluations of, for, and in Transitions

Charlotte Halpern, Sciences Po
Thomas Delahais, Quadrant Conseil

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S11_ From instruments to systems: Evaluating the private sector’s increasing role in development, climate and market transformation

José Carbajo, Morera Consulting Ltd
Miriam Amine, DEG Impulse

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S12_ 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

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S13_ 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

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S14_ Learning, Equity, and Innovation in EU Policy Evaluation: Methods and Practice for Vibrant Democracies [joint TWG 7 EU Policies and EEPF Proposal]

Bridget Dillon, DDA
Joanna Hofman, Ipsos UK

José Carbajo, Morera Consulting Ltd
Oto Potluka, University of Basel

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S15_ Rebalancing Power: Feminist and Decolonial Pathways to Democratic Evaluation

Jaynie Vonk, Oxfam Novib
Karen Biesbrouck, Oxfam Novib

Petra Novakova, EES TWG 1
Svetlana Negroustoueva, CGIAR – Independent Evaluation Function

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S16_ 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

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S17_ Evaluators as Actors that Support Vibrant Democracies

Vincent Ssenyondo, Africa Evaluation Association (AfrEA)
Catherine Namande, Uganda Evaluation Association
John LaVelle, American Journal Of Evaluation

Gabriel Keney, Saint Francis University
Patricia Rogers, Purposeful Program Theory
Dugan Fraser, Indicate Impact

See description