CLEAR–FA Supports the Strengthening of Youth-Centered Evaluations in Burundi 

From 22 to 24 October 2025, Bujumbura hosted an innovative training focused on the meaningful engagement of children and young people in research and evaluation processes. The workshop was led by the Center for Learning on Evaluation and Results–Francophone Africa (CLEAR–FA)—an implementing partner of the Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI)—in partnership with UNICEF, the Burundi National Evaluation Network (RNEB), and the Center for Research on Economic and Social Development (CURDES). Nearly 30 participants from academic institutions, government agencies, and civil society organizations took part in the three-day program.

“Giving young people a voice is not merely symbolic—it is essential to understanding what truly works on the grounded," said Daphrese Ndayikeje of the Burundi National Evaluation Network (RNEB).

Strengthening youth participation in evaluation 

Young people are among the primary beneficiaries of public policies, yet their perspectives are often absent from evaluation processes. The training sought to address this gap by introducing practical ways to integrate their experiences into knowledge production. The sessions also examined local realities that influence participation—including poverty, sociocultural norms, and limited digital access—and emphasized the importance of adapting evaluation approaches to the Burundian context. By placing young people’ lived experiences at the center, CLEAR–FA and partners aim to support more equitable and locally grounded evaluation practices.

Participatory methods adapted to local contexts 

Participants were trained in four visual and interactive approaches designed to support safe and accessible engagement. The River of Life technique helped participants visualize personal journeys. Body Mapping supported the expression of bodily and emotional perceptions. Forum Theatre provided a space to reenact real-life situations and foster collective dialogue. Participatory Ranking or Scorecards offered an intuitive and inclusive way to assess services or experiences using symbolic objects. These approaches are particularly effective for young people with low literacy levels, offering intuitive and culturally appropriate ways to express sensitive experiences.

A structured, hands-on learning process

Each day concluded with a concrete output: an ethical checklist, cultural adaptation matrices, mini-implementation protocols, and individual action plans. Participants also strengthened their skills in planning, budgeting, and managing data generated through participatory methods. 

“We are leaving with concrete tools that we can immediately apply in our projects,” said Alivella Nizirazana from CURDES.

By the end of the workshop, participants had deepened their understanding of the ethical considerations involved in engaging young people and gained operational mastery of the four participatory methods covered introduced. The action plans developed during the training aim to support the rapid application of these approaches in their respective institutions.

Toward a new culture of evaluation in Africa

This initiative, led by CLEAR–FA, marks an important step toward advancing inclusive evaluation practices that in Africa. By recognizing young people as essential contributors to evidence generation, it supports the development of evaluation systems that better reflect the realities, needs, and aspirations of those most affected by public policies. The training contributes to a broader shift toward a culture of evaluation grounded in participation, local knowledge, and equitable evidence use.

“When young people speak in an evaluation process, something powerful happens. Reality reveals itself differently, and solutions become more human, more just, and more ambitious. In Bujumbura, we saw participants embrace tools that unlock this voice and transform the way we learn from the field. CLEAR–FA deeply believes in this transformative energy, and we will continue to place it at the heart of our work,” said Amos Menard, Deputy Director of CLEAR–FA.