Strengthening Evidence for Policy in Polarized Times: The role of evaluation associations and networks
Roundtable | Online
-
Organized by:
EvalPartners
- In partnership with: Independent Development Evaluation (IDEV) at the African Development Bank (AfDB)
About the Event
Evaluation associations such as national, regional and global Voluntary Organizations for Professional Evaluation (VOPEs) and evaluation networks such as EvalPartners, the United Nations Evaluation Group, the OECD/DAC Evaluation Network, and the Evaluation Cooperation Group of the International Financial Institutions play a critical role in advancing the practice, culture, and use of evaluation globally and locally. These entities act as platforms for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and advocacy, bringing together evaluators, institutions, and stakeholders to strengthen evaluation systems. They promote the use of evaluation in policy- and decision-making and in accountability, and work closely with governments, NGOs/CSOs, and development partners to integrate evaluation into public sector policies and programs and development agendas. In this way, evaluation can contribute to solutions to the challenges that the world and its people face.
However, there is today a growing resurgence of political polarization in the world that can hinder effective policymaking by deepening divisions, reducing trust in institutions, and hampering consensus-driven decision-making. In such contexts, evidence may be dismissed or misused based on personal or political agendas, weakening informed decision-making and accountability. Evaluators may also face pressure to compromise their independence. To maintain integrity and credibility, they must uphold ethical standards, ensure transparency, and engage diverse stakeholders across political lines. Building trust is essential to promote the legitimate use of evidence in polarized environments.
In an era marked by the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation, especially through digital platforms, there is an urgent need for sustained dialogue between policymakers, evidence producers, and advocacy groups, such as evaluation networks. These ongoing conversations are essential to bridge divides, foster collaboration and consensus on government actions, reinforce trust in institutions, and promote the responsible use of evidence in decision-making.
This roundtable will focus on how evaluation associations and networks can support evaluators in generating and disseminating credible, policy-relevant evidence to address the challenges of political polarization, to inform decisions on critical global issues such as climate change, equity, and peace, and to strengthen accountability. It will highlight the value of collaboration among evaluation associations and networks and key national and international stakeholders to ensure that evidence is not only produced but meaningfully used. Through the discussion of specific examples/ cases, thoughtfully crafted questions and an engaging format, the session aims to spark insightful discussion and deliver practical takeaways for participants.
However, there is today a growing resurgence of political polarization in the world that can hinder effective policymaking by deepening divisions, reducing trust in institutions, and hampering consensus-driven decision-making. In such contexts, evidence may be dismissed or misused based on personal or political agendas, weakening informed decision-making and accountability. Evaluators may also face pressure to compromise their independence. To maintain integrity and credibility, they must uphold ethical standards, ensure transparency, and engage diverse stakeholders across political lines. Building trust is essential to promote the legitimate use of evidence in polarized environments.
In an era marked by the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation, especially through digital platforms, there is an urgent need for sustained dialogue between policymakers, evidence producers, and advocacy groups, such as evaluation networks. These ongoing conversations are essential to bridge divides, foster collaboration and consensus on government actions, reinforce trust in institutions, and promote the responsible use of evidence in decision-making.
This roundtable will focus on how evaluation associations and networks can support evaluators in generating and disseminating credible, policy-relevant evidence to address the challenges of political polarization, to inform decisions on critical global issues such as climate change, equity, and peace, and to strengthen accountability. It will highlight the value of collaboration among evaluation associations and networks and key national and international stakeholders to ensure that evidence is not only produced but meaningfully used. Through the discussion of specific examples/ cases, thoughtfully crafted questions and an engaging format, the session aims to spark insightful discussion and deliver practical takeaways for participants.
Speakers
| Name | Title | Biography |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. Khalil Bitar | President, IOCE, and Co-Chair, EvalPartners | Mr. Khalil Bitar is a Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (PMEL) expert with extensive multidisciplinary experience across international organizations, government institutions, and NGOs. He currently serves as the President of the International Organization for Cooperation in Evaluation (IOCE), Co-Chair of EvalPartners, and Co-Leader of Eval4Action. He is co-founder and former Chair of EvalYouth Global and founder and former President of the Palestinian Evaluation Association. |
| Mrs. Cecilia de Decker | Special Evaluator for Development Cooperation, Government of Belgium, and Vice-President OECD/DAC EvalNet | Mrs. Cécilia De Decker is an economist by training who has been involved in public policy evaluation for over 20 years. She has coordinated numerous evaluations of complex policies in the fields of education, vocational training and economic development. Since 2016, Cécilia has held the position of Special Evaluator for Development Cooperation at the Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs in the Government of Belgium. In addition, she is involved in promoting evaluation practices through her active presence in networks. For example, she is currently Vice-President of the EvalNet network at the OECD Development Assistance Committee. This network brings together 30 countries, UN agencies and development banks to coordinate evaluations, share knowledge and establish evaluation standards. She was also a director of the Walloon Evaluation and Prospective Society for more than 10 years. |
| Ms. Millicent Tshivhase | Senior Evaluation Specialist. Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Government of South Africa | Ms. Millicent Tshivhase holds various qualifications in the fields of science, town planning, and Monitoring and Evaluation. She has more than 19 years of working experience in the three spheres of government. During her career, Ms Tshivhase has championed and conducted a number of evaluation studies. She is currently a Senior Evaluation Specialist at the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Government of South Africa, where she is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the National Evaluation System and contributing to the attainment of the National Development Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals. The function also entails ensuring Evaluation Capacity Building across the spheres of government, State owned Entities and Local Government, and provision of related evaluation technical capacity. |
| Dr. Romulo Miral | Deputy Secretary General, Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department, House of Representatives, Parliament of the Philippines | Dr. Romulo Miral currently serves as the Deputy Secretary General of the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) of the House of Representatives, Parliament of the Philippines. With nearly three decades of public service—primarily within the legislative branch—he brings extensive experience in public expenditure management, national budgeting, tax policy and administration, and intergovernmental fiscal relations. Dr. Miral has also shared his expertise in academia as a lecturer at the University of the Philippines School of Economics and the National College of Public Administration and Governance. In addition, he has served as a consultant to various multilateral and bilateral institutions. He holds a PhD in economics from the Australian National University. |
Moderators
| Name | Title | Biography |
|---|---|---|
| Karen Rot-Munstermann | Evaluator General, African Development Bank | Karen Rot-Münstermann is the Evaluator General, at the African Development Bank. Karen joined IDEV in June 2014 as Division Manager for Knowledge Management, Outreach, and Capacity Development, before becoming Evaluator General in April 2022. Prior to IDEV, she worked in the AfDB’s Resource Mobilization Department, responsible for the three-yearly replenishment process of the African Development Fund and the allocation of ADF resources to African countries. Before joining the Bank in 2009, Karen was a Senior Policy Advisor at the Dutch Ministry of Finance (Treasury, Foreign Financial Relations Department). She holds Masters degrees in Political Science, European Studies, and Economics. |