Linda Raftree

Instructor

MERL Tech Initiative Founder

Linda Raftree founded the MERL Tech Initiative (MTI) in 2014, building on two decades of work at the intersection of community development, gender, youth participatory media, rights-based approaches and digital development. She is a well-known expert on responsible data approaches, AI policy and governance, inclusive digital approaches, safe tech-enabled programme design, and tech-enabled monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL). Linda specialized in organizational and sector strategy in times of political flux and technological change. She runs sector-wide convenings through MTI and the New York City Technology Salon, which she started in 2011. Linda is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP & CIPM). She also serves on the SAFE AI Pool of Experts and co-teaches AI and MERL at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).

Courses and workshops

I-c: Introduction to AI in evaluation

Are you wondering how the AI revolution will affect your evaluation work? And do you want to better understand how AI -- and AI in evaluation -- actually works? In this course, we will cover these questions. You will learn the basics of how AI models work, explore tensions between the promises and perils of AI, and learn where AI could be used in evaluation. You will also learn how to evaluate tools and programmes that include AI components. Additionally, we will cover what evaluation commissioners should look out for when assessing proposed uses of AI in evaluation. Practical exercises...

Instructor(s)Linda Raftree, Paul Jasper

LevelIntroductory