IPDET 2022 On-site Training Program Offers Unique Benefits for Public Sector and Other Evaluation Professionals

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IPDET 2022 On-site Training Program Offers Unique Benefits for Public Sector and Other Evaluation Professionals
Trained public sector officials, policymakers and M&E professionals are needed to support the development and use of these systems. This is the the focus of the IPDET training program, which after a forced break, due to COVID, returned to its in-person training this year.
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30 January 2023

As an Implementing Partner of the Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI), the International Program for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET) contributes to GEI’s mission of strengthening national monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems by building the capacities of individual M&E stakeholders. Trained public sector officials, policymakers, evaluation practitioners and other M&E professionals are needed to support the development and use of these systems and are the focus of the IPDET training program.

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, IPDET returned to its in-person training in Bern in the summer of 2022 for a two-week intensive program. IPDET, a globally recognized program for advanced training in the field of evaluation, tailors its courses to the needs of professionals who commission, manage, or use evaluations. For the 2022 program, 137 individuals from 63 countries participated in IPDET's in-person, onsite program in Bern, which was complemented by 8 online workshops with a total of 94 participants.

 

Almost 25% of IPDET participants in the 2022 program in Bern were from the public sector, representing 17 countries. In addition, 20% of individuals participating in the online program were from the public sector and represented 16 different countries. 

Feedback from public sector participants in the IPDET program has always been very positive, often focusing on how the training has helped them not only gain specific skills around evaluation, but also build a community of M&E colleagues - to continue learning from and sharing experiences with long after the training has ended.  In this way, IPDET builds a foundation of support for public sector officials who will return to their jobs with new skills and the motivation to contribute to a culture of evidence-based decision-making in their countries.

“After two intensive and very productive weeks at IPDET2022, with over 100+ professionals from 60 countries, my mind has a lot of knowledge to process. So happy to have exchanged experience and insights in Monitoring and Evaluation with policy makers, managers, commissioners, and evaluators. Definitely, IPDET has been a valuable experience to expand my network and enhance my M&E skills. [ ….] Lots of knowledge and takeaways to process and apply in my professional life.”

                   – Alexandra Yánez Casalombo, Public Policy Evaluation Officer, Secretaria Nacional de Planificación, Ecuador

IPDET facilitates this network-building by engaging its participants in special community building activities during the training: 

  1. The Participants' Forum encouraged participants to set up poster displays or "market stands" around specific evaluation questions.  This activity provided a more informal space to share experiences, discuss, network and find opportunities for collaboration. 
  2. For the World Exhibition, participants were encouraged to bring cultural and country-related items from home to display, discuss (and even exchange). Learning about others’ country, culture and language lets participants have more meaningful interactions, celebrating differences as well as similarities. The sense of belonging – an important part of community building – comes from an individual’s feeling of acceptance and inclusion in a group despite differences.

In addition, IPDET in-person on-site trainings always include celebratory events like graduation nights and day trips (see header photo of day trip to the Alps from 2022 training program).

IPDET also implemented several online community building activities based on its Community Building Strategy: IPDET Community | IPDET

Learn more about IPDET’s 2022 onsite program directly from attendees and instructors in this short, engaging video: 

 

IPDET 2023

IPDET 2023 is in the making - the on-site program in Bern will take place from July 10 to 21 and 4 online workshops will be delivered in the second half of the year. Check out the brand-new onsite and online program and mark February 15 in your calendar to apply. Onsite and online scholarships available.