The Center for Learning on Evaluation and Results for Lusophone Africa and Brazil (CLEAR-LAB), an implementing partner of the Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI), has launched a new free online course on rapid evaluation. The course was officially released during Glocal Evaluation Week 2026, held June 1–5, and is available in Portuguese.
As demand grows for faster and more responsive forms of evaluation, rapid evaluation (also known as Executive Evaluation) has gained traction as an approach capable of answering strategic questions within shorter timeframes and with fewer resources than traditional evaluations, while maintaining sufficient rigor to inform management decisions.
The self-paced course introduces participants to the key concepts, methods, and applications of rapid evaluation. Through practical examples and real-world cases, learners will explore how the approach can be used to assess policies and programs when decision-makers need evidence within tight deadlines.
To mark the launch, CLEAR-LAB hosted a webinar on June 1 during Glocal Evaluation Week 2026 featuring practitioners with hands-on experience in applying rapid evaluation in government settings. Speakers included Ana Carolina Mennella, Undersecretary of Planning for the State of São Paulo, and Amanda Koffer, Researcher at the Jones dos Santos Neves Institute, linked to the government of the state of Espírito Santo.
The discussion highlighted how rapid evaluation can support public sector decision-making by generating timely and actionable evidence for policy and program improvement.
Designed for public officials, evaluators, researchers, and professionals working in monitoring and evaluation, the course has a total workload of 30 hours and is offered entirely online.
“Decision-makers often need credible evidence quickly, but traditional evaluation processes can take months or even years to deliver results. Rapid evaluation offers an alternative that balances timeliness, cost, and rigor,” said Lorena Figueiredo, a researcher at CLEAR-LAB who moderated the webinar.
"We still face challenges, such as strengthening the capacity of managers across government departments. But the gains have been significant. Because rapid evaluations are shorter and faster to conduct, they allow us to make adjustments along the way, helping improve policies and programs,” said Ana Carolina Mennella.
