IPDET 2022 Community Events

The IPDET Participants Forum takes advantage of the vast expertise of participants and provides space to share, discuss, network and (further) collaborate. This gives our participants the opportunity imparting their own knowledge and get feedback and advice from others on evaluation related questions.

In total, seven participants and three lecturers designed their own ‘market stands’:

1. Knowledge sharing:

• ‘The role of politics in the evaluation field’ by Kenneth Otikal (Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries | UGANDA): Political leaders at various levels have in the past used evaluation to influence political discourse. Understanding the role of politics in evaluation is therefore key for its practitioners. Underpinning politics, at whatever level, provides a foundation for upholding important principles of the profession, most especially independence or ‘do not harm others’.
• ‘Contribution of Evaluation for Good Governance and Democracy’ by Erdenechimeg Ulziisuren (Founder of Mongolian Evaluation Association | Cognos International LLC | MONGOLIA): Mongolia adopted a Law on Development Policy, Planning and its Management in 2020, and Mongolian Evaluation Association was founded in 2021 with a vision to promote and advance the theory, practice, use and institutions of evaluation in Mongolia. Both are central steps towards institutionalization of evaluation locally.
• ‘Practical implementation of Evaluations for Non-Profits Organizations’ by Anniza de Wet (Valcare NPC | SOUTH AFRICA): Valcare activates and enables nonprofit organizations in the Western Cape in South Africa to implement certain key elements of the evaluation cycle to conduct regular self-evaluations to enable good governance and improved program delivery.
• ‘Information on Evaluation Department at European Bank for Reconstruction & Development’ by Alejandra Palma (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development | UK): The independent Evaluation Department evaluates the performance of the Bank’s completed projects and programs relative to objectives. The overarching objective of each of EvD’s evaluations is to contribute to mutually reinforcing organisational accountability and learning, and through doing so empower evidence-based decision making and improve institutional performance.
• ‘SAMEA Evaluation Hackathon’ by Eleanor Hazell (JET Education Services | SOUTH AFRICA): Inspired by the IPDET Evaluation Hackathon 2020, in 2021 people working in M&E joined a SAMEA Evaluation Hackathon to co-create solutions for South Africa’s challenges, in the process building M&E capacity, and strengthening the M&E community in South Africa.

2. Seeking for advice:

• ‘Advise on: Evaluation Gender training with measurable achievements’ by Gabriela Rentaría (MEXICO): In particular, Gabriela was looking for ideas about alternative indicators or how to measure the training results, beyond the participants’ perception, on an evaluation of a training program with a gender perspective. The presentation allowed her to critically analyze not only this project, but others in her practice.
• ‘Advise on: Evaluation from a cultural context in the public service sector especially in institutionalizing MEL in Government and Organization’ by Fiona Latoya Fandim (Pacific Community | PAPUA NEW GUINEA): One of the central aspects to strengthen MEL in institutions is to have capacity assessments within the organization and support with training programs and other career development programs that support MEL awareness and culture in the organization, as done with the Rebbilib which at SPC guides their MEL capacity building programs in the region.

3. Further training and cooperation:

• ‘Master (Blended Learning) of Evaluation (MABLE)’ by Wolfgang Meyer (Center for Evaluation (CEval) – Saarland University & IPDET | GERMANY):
  The MABLE program provides students with qualifications for scientific or professional work in the field of evaluation. The program is offered in cooperation between the Saarland University and the Technical University of Kaiserslautern, both located in Germany.
• ‘IPDET Global Outreach’ by Laszlo Szentmarjay and Reinhard Stockmann (IPDET):
  To meet the needs of specific audiences in different regions, since 2021 IPDET Global Outreach focusses on awareness raising & building, evaluation management as well as practical conduction and/or use of evaluations with activities across the globe. A first activity with focus on parliamentarians and their research staff was conducted in 2022.

The IPDET Participants Forum was combined with a World Exhibition, for which numerous cultural and country related items were brought from home, viewed and exchanged among each other. This parallel activity had a focus on the cultural side of IPDET and the diversity of participants origin. It contributes to further exchange, which supports understanding and learning about other cultures.

Both formats enable us to further unite and integrate participants from a wide range of countries and with diverse professional backgrounds in a powerful network. The unique experience that each individual contributes and the joint willingness to learn and grow, generates our vibrant IPDET Community.