Enabling the Evaluation Pipeline: Data, Talent, and Collaboration
Panel Discussion | Online
-
Organized by:
J-PAL South Asia
About the Event
In the face of intensifying climate risks and health inequities, data has the power to drive timely, life-saving decisions — yet the disconnect between those who produce data and those who use it for evidence-based evaluations and policymaking remains a persistent barrier. The India Data Capacity Accelerator (IDCA) program at J-PAL South Asia was designed to bridge this critical gap by developing open data repositories and building the social impact ecosystem’s data maturity to generate and leverage quality data for impactful evaluations, particularly at the intersection of Climate and Health. As the world grapples with complex, intersecting crises, ensuring data is accessible, usable, and policy-relevant is no longer optional — it’s essential.
This session, hosted under the larger gLocal Evaluation Week 2025 initiative with the theme “Evaluation for a Better Future,” will spotlight how IDCA is advancing data enablement to support rigorous, policy-relevant evaluations. Through the presentation of two case studies, the session will demonstrate how strengthening data ecosystems directly accelerates high-quality evaluations addressing real-world challenges in Climate and Health. A moderated panel discussion with key stakeholders including data developers, evaluation professionals, and policymakers will explore shared on-the-ground experiences, practical challenges, and strategies for closing the data-use gap in the development sector.
The session will showcase IDCA’s catalytic role in fostering a data-driven ecosystem, illustrate tangible examples of data-enabled studies, and facilitate a knowledge exchange on best practices in building responsive, evaluation-ready data systems. By convening diverse voices across disciplines and sectors, the session aims to chart actionable pathways for integrating climate data into evidence-informed policy frameworks.
This session, hosted under the larger gLocal Evaluation Week 2025 initiative with the theme “Evaluation for a Better Future,” will spotlight how IDCA is advancing data enablement to support rigorous, policy-relevant evaluations. Through the presentation of two case studies, the session will demonstrate how strengthening data ecosystems directly accelerates high-quality evaluations addressing real-world challenges in Climate and Health. A moderated panel discussion with key stakeholders including data developers, evaluation professionals, and policymakers will explore shared on-the-ground experiences, practical challenges, and strategies for closing the data-use gap in the development sector.
The session will showcase IDCA’s catalytic role in fostering a data-driven ecosystem, illustrate tangible examples of data-enabled studies, and facilitate a knowledge exchange on best practices in building responsive, evaluation-ready data systems. By convening diverse voices across disciplines and sectors, the session aims to chart actionable pathways for integrating climate data into evidence-informed policy frameworks.
Speakers
| Name | Title | Biography |
|---|---|---|
| Ms Rama Devi Lanka (Keynote) | Director – Emerging Technologies, Office of Special Duty (OSD), Government of Telangana, India | Ms Lanka leads Telangana’s pioneering work in emerging tech, driving AI, Blockchain, and IoT adoption across government systems. She has spearheaded 50+ innovation projects, shaped national-award-winning policies, and positioned Telangana as a leader in data-driven, inclusive governance. |
| Neha Malhotra Singh | Senior Manager, Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy | Neha Malhotra Singh is an economist and urban governance expert, currently leading research and MEL initiatives at Janaagraha. She led the Just Transitions project in Odisha, designing clean energy solutions for low-income communities through data and deep community engagement. |
| Dr Dev Patel | Postdoctoral Fellow, J-PAL at MIT | Dr Dev Patel is a development economist whose research spans climate adaptation, gender, and education, with a focus on low-income contexts. His recent work uses machine learning to better understand the impact of floods and environmental shocks. |
Moderators
| Name | Title | Biography |
|---|---|---|
| Ms Aditi Namdeo | Director of Strategic Initiatives, J-PAL South Asia | Ms Aditi Namdeo brings over two decades of global experience in public-private partnerships, technology policy, and innovation. As Director – Strategic Initiatives at J-PAL South Asia, she leads transformative efforts like the India Data Capacity Accelerator (IDCA) and the AI for social good agenda, driving data use and evidence-based policymaking in climate and health. |