Course Strengthens Capacities for Public Policy Formulation and Design Evaluation in Guatemala

As part of a strategic partnership between the Center for Learning on Evaluation and Results for Latin America and the Caribbean (CLEAR-LAC)—an implementing partner of the Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI)—the Government of Guatemala, and the Inter-American Development Bank’s Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE IDB), the course “Public Policy Design and Design Evaluation” was delivered in collaboration with the Secretariat of Planning and Programming of the Presidency (SEGEPLAN). The closing session took place on July 10 in Guatemala City. 

“The course is an opportunity for technical staff from SEGEPLAN and other government entities to effectively apply these methodologies and techniques to evaluate the design phase of our interventions. It is also valuable because it creates a community of practice, helping to ensure that the monitoring and evaluation paradigm becomes firmly established in the country,” said Carlos Mendoza, Secretary of Planning and Programming of the Presidency (SEGEPLAN), at the closing event. 

The training provided theoretical and practical tools for designing better public policies, assessing key components, integrating the use of evidence, and supporting more informed decision-making. During 10 virtual sessions, participants explored topics such as diagnostic development, identifying program populations and objectives, intervention strategies, indicators, budgeting, and design evaluation in different contexts. 

Sessions were led by Cristian Crespo, Executive Director of CLEAR-LAC, who explained: “The course sought to build competencies for sound public policy design and, through design evaluation within the framework of national institutions, strengthen the supply of public policies. We believe this is essential at this early stage of Guatemala’s emerging National Monitoring and Evaluation System (SINSE).” 

A total of 36 professionals participated in the course, representing institutions that make up the Grupo Impulsor, including SEGEPLAN, the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES), the National Institute of Public Administration (INAP), the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), the Ministry of Finance (MINFIN), the Secretariat for Food and Nutrition Security (SESAN), the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS), and the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS), among others. 

Adriana Armendáriz from MIDES highlighted the value of the training: “Participating allowed me to understand the ‘why’ behind programs and to make concise, theory-based recommendations for improving the design of ministry programs, such as scholarships or Jóvenes Protagonistas. It also gave me the tools to provide more specific and technical recommendations, rather than only statistical descriptions of evaluations.” 

Participants also carried out a group assignment, analyzing real government programs from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food (MAGA) and MIDES. Representatives from these ministries were invited to the closing session to hear the results, fostering inter-institutional dialogue. 

The initiative is expected to strengthen the design of public programs and reinforce the use of evidence throughout their lifecycle, contributing to the consolidation of the National Monitoring and Evaluation System (SINSE). 

Hugo García, Undersecretary of Strategic Development Analysis at SEGEPLAN, emphasized the importance of decentralization: “We are not centralizing these capacities. In line with the decentralized nature of the Monitoring and Evaluation System we are building, capacities must also be distributed and complementary. Without these capacities, even with political will, it would be impossible to carry out the evaluations our government has set out to achieve.” 

The closing session also featured Gonzalo Hernández Licona, CLEAR-LAC consultant leading advisory work to institutionalize and consolidate SINSE’s regulatory framework in Guatemala. 

Emil Salim, Coordinator of OVE IDB’s evaluation capacity development program, stressed the course’s relevance: “As challenges evolve, and with Guatemala on the verge of having a structured monitoring and evaluation system, CLEAR-LAC designed a course on policy design and design evaluation that is highly relevant to the new challenges facing the Guatemalan public sector.” 

Earlier this year, CLEAR-LAC implemented similar courses in Ecuador and the Dominican Republic as part of its commitment to strengthening capacities for more effective public sector management across Latin America and the Caribbean.