Choosing the right path: using evidence to guide public health decisions in Latin America & the Caribbean
Panel Discussion | Online
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Organized by:
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
About the Event
One of Alice’s most fascinating adventures in Wonderland is her encounter with the Cheshire Cat. Alice reaches a fork in the road and asks the cat which path she should take. The cat responds by asking Alice where she wants to go. Alice insists on her question, and the cat insists on his. After a while, the cat smiles and tells Alice, "If you don’t know where you want to go, then it doesn’t matter which path you take."
This lesson extends beyond Wonderland to public spending decisions in Latin America and the Caribbean, where inertia and rigidity often lead to ineffective policies.
This session will explore how decision-makers can break free from this cycle, using evaluation and other evidence to guide policy and budget decisions by showcasing real-world case studies and examples where evidence has successfully guided public health decisions, as well as the challenges faced in institutionalizing evaluation. Experts will discuss the role of data and evaluation in shaping effective health policies, overcoming political and institutional barriers, and leveraging innovative tools for real-time health monitoring. The session will also highlight the role of civil society in ensuring accountability and community participation.
Through a panel discussion of national and regional experts, participants will gain insights into practical strategies to use evaluation to inform and justify budget decisions, through cross-sector collaboration and partnership.
This lesson extends beyond Wonderland to public spending decisions in Latin America and the Caribbean, where inertia and rigidity often lead to ineffective policies.
This session will explore how decision-makers can break free from this cycle, using evaluation and other evidence to guide policy and budget decisions by showcasing real-world case studies and examples where evidence has successfully guided public health decisions, as well as the challenges faced in institutionalizing evaluation. Experts will discuss the role of data and evaluation in shaping effective health policies, overcoming political and institutional barriers, and leveraging innovative tools for real-time health monitoring. The session will also highlight the role of civil society in ensuring accountability and community participation.
Through a panel discussion of national and regional experts, participants will gain insights into practical strategies to use evaluation to inform and justify budget decisions, through cross-sector collaboration and partnership.
Speakers
| Name | Title | Biography |
|---|---|---|
| Mary Lou Valdez | Deputy Director, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) | Ms Valdez has direct oversight of PAHO's Departments of Planning, Budget & Evaluation; External Relations, Partnerships & Resource Mobilization; Communications; and Governance. She brings decades of leadership in global health from the US government and international organizations incl. WHO & UNICEF |
| Marina Lafer | Research Fellow, Office of Evaluation, Inter-American Development Bank (OEV IADB) | Marina Lafer strengthens accountability and learning at AIDB’s Office of Evaluation and Oversight. She has led participatory evaluations with CLEAR-FGV in Brazil and Lusophone Africa and advanced evidence use with J-PAL. She holds a MPA from Columbia University and is an IPDET and MIT DEDP alumna. |
| Shantal Aragón | Director Evidence Use, Senior Training and Education Manager, CLEAR-LAC, J-PAL Latin America and the Caribbean | Shantal Aragón is the Director of Evidence Use at CLEAR-LAC, dedicated to empowering policymakers with evidence-driven decision-making. With experience at J-PAL and the Mexican government, she has shaped policies on rural development and poverty. She holds a Master’s in Health & Development from LSE |
| Cristian A. Herrera | Senior Health Specialist, The World Bank | Cristian A Herrera is a Senior Health Specialist at the World Bank for LAC, with a career shaping health policy. Formerly Chile’s acting Vice Minister of Public Health and an OECD analyst, he brings deep expertise in health systems. A medical doctor, he holds a Public Policy MSc from LSE and an MBA |
| Dr. Ciro Ugarte | Director, Health Emergencies, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) | Dr. Ciro Ugarte, Director of Health Emergencies at PAHO, has over 25 years of experience leading health emergency responses in the Americas. He spearheaded the implementation of recommendations from the evaluation of PAHO’s COVID-19 response, strengthening regional readiness. |
| Dr Andrés Castañeda Prado | Coordinator of the National Public Health Service (SNSP), Ministry of Health, Mexico (tbc) | A physician with master’s degrees in Sociomedical Sciences and Behavioral Economics, Andrés Castañeda has advised Mexico’s Ministry of Health on equity and access, led public health research at UNAM, and works on health rights, medical trainees' rights, and access to medicines. |
Moderators
| Name | Title | Biography |
|---|---|---|
| Sarah Cruz | Evaluation Specialist, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) | Sarah Cruz is an Evaluation Specialist at PAHO with extensive experience leading thematic, strategic, and multi-country evaluations across Latin America and the Caribbean, West and East Africa, as well as Southeast Asia and the Pacific, in both development and humanitarian contexts. She has a proven track record in leveraging data-driven insights to strengthen health systems, promote gender equity, and support sustainable development. |