Evaluating Partnerships, Climate Change and Beyond: The Case for Social Network Analysis (SNA)
Seminar | Hybrid
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Organized by:
CGIAR
- In partnership with: Bia Carnero, Research Team Leader, CGIAR , Shweta Anand, PhD Social Network Analysis & MEL Analyst, Community of Evaluators - South Asia (COE-SA) Core Member, GENSA Former Assistant Professor, Department of Development Communication & Extension, University
About the Event
This seminar will explore Social Network Analysis (SNA) as a great example of novel and effective methodology for assessing partnership building in research-for-development projects and initiatives. SNA is a powerful tool that examines relationships, interactions, and influence within networks, providing valuable insights into collaboration patterns, stakeholder engagement, and the overall effectiveness of partnerships. By applying SNA, evaluators can better understand the structure and dynamics of partnerships, identify key actors, and assess the strength and impact of connections within a project.
The new SNA Methods Note will be presented (https://iaes.cgiar.org/evaluation/publications/social-network-analysis-evaluation-development-interventions-methods-note). The seminar will feature examples from a web analytics approach to map the influence and reach of CGIAR research programs, and independent evaluations of CGIAR’s portfolio: Science Groups and Genebank platform; and the synthesis learning study on Partnerships from CGIAR portfolio from 2022 [online May 2025].
Join us to learn how this approach can enhance project evaluations and support strategic decision-making in development initiatives. Speakers will discuss the main concepts of SNA and their application to evaluation, as well as present case studies for collective reflection.
The new SNA Methods Note will be presented (https://iaes.cgiar.org/evaluation/publications/social-network-analysis-evaluation-development-interventions-methods-note). The seminar will feature examples from a web analytics approach to map the influence and reach of CGIAR research programs, and independent evaluations of CGIAR’s portfolio: Science Groups and Genebank platform; and the synthesis learning study on Partnerships from CGIAR portfolio from 2022 [online May 2025].
Join us to learn how this approach can enhance project evaluations and support strategic decision-making in development initiatives. Speakers will discuss the main concepts of SNA and their application to evaluation, as well as present case studies for collective reflection.
Speakers
| Name | Title | Biography |
|---|---|---|
| Svetlana Negroustouvea | Lead, Independent Evaluation, CGIAR | Ms. Svetlana Negroustoueva leads the Independent Evaluation Function at CGIAR, bringing over 20 years of experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL). She has worked with the World Bank, African Development Bank, UN agencies, and bilateral organizations, focusing on evaluations in sustainable landscapes, health, and gender. At CGIAR, she developed evaluation guidelines for Quality of Science used by three science groups. A former independent evaluator and active member of evaluation associations, Svetlana is passionate about gender-responsive evaluations and co-chaired EvalGender+, promoting equity-focused assessments. She holds a master’s degree in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin and an Advanced BA from Lomonosov Moscow State University. |
| Shweta Anand, PhD | Board Member of Community of Evaluators South Asia; member of the Gender & Equity Network South Asia | Shweta Anand is an SNA and MEL expert specializing in Participatory Communication, focusing on behavioral science and community development. With 17 years of experience, she applies SNA methods to enhance communication and impact. A gold medalist from Delhi University, she has authored over 20 publications and serves on various boards. |
| Bia Carneiro | Research team leader, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, CGIAR | Bia Carneiro is a research team leader, co-leading the digital innovations thematic area of CGIAR FOCUS Climate Security. She applies digital methods, natural language processing, and SNA to examine food insecurity and the climate, peace, and security nexus. With 20+ years of experience in communications, social policy, and international development, Bia manages information systems, assesses data critically, and develops innovative research strategies. She holds a Joint Major in Communication and Latin American Studies y, a specialization in Social Policy Management , and an MSc from the London School of Economics, and is currently a PhD Sociology candidate in Portugal |