How do you adapt your program evaluation practice in response to changing contexts and demands?

It is also important to ask our partners which areas do they need to be evaluated, areas for improvement. This is important on ongoing projects. A shift to implementation support mission to understand gaps!

Remind myself that an evaluator is not an auditor , it is not their job to identify mistakes and shortcomings. Identify areas of opportunity definitely but also celebrate what the team has already achieved and can’t see for themselves perhaps.

Employ context monitoring. This helps you keep tabs with what is changing, what has changed and what could change. By creating a set of of indicators for monitoring changes in context, you can adapt quickly.

Absolutely crucial in the realm of program evaluation because it also assist in evaluating potential risks and uncertainties, and then adapting the evaluation plan accordingly.

As a program evaluator, it is my job to become as smart as program stakeholders as quickly as possible. I can't improve their program if I don't understand many aspects of it as well as they do.

By actively seeking feedback, staying open-minded, and embracing collaboration, I continuously refine my program evaluation practice. Engaging with diverse perspectives allows me to adapt strategies effectively, ensuring alignment with evolving contexts and demands. It's about staying agile, learning from others, and driving impactful change! ????

LinkedIn is one of the best place to benefit from shared experiences in programme evaluation. There's always something to learn. Find a community. Contribute to that community. Be known for that community.

Continuous improvement should become the mantra of all evaluation teams, ensuring that each evaluation becomes not just an assessment but a learning journey. This mindset allows for easy navigation of uncertainties with agility, refining strategies and delivering insights that truly resonate with the evolving landscape of the programs we evaluate.

Yeah. Try methods. Most Significant Change. Appreciate Inquiry. Outcome Harvesting. Kirkpatrick Model for Training Evaluation. Try methods as much as you learn them.

In program evaluation, it's crucial to embrace mixed-method approaches, such as Focus group discussions, interviews, participatory approach, benchmarking and surveys, to mention a few. This ensures flexibility in data collection methods and helps align with the unique nature and context of each program.

One of the best way to do this is to switch teams and projects when favourable opportunities show up. Don't be afraid about trying different sectors and work environment as long as they align with your goals. You'll learn more

One thing I have found helpful is to participate in webinars and virtual events organized by evaluation associations or other industry groups to share your evaluation experiences. These events provide opportunities to connect with professionals and learn about the latest trends and practices.

You need those. Feedback. Always ask for them, and always take them with thanks. Everyone is biased, but feedback help you to see beyond yourself.

The importance of feedback cannot be overemphasized as it helps provide real-time improvements to evaluated programs. Humans are by nature biased. With feedback you have access to ongoing insights from different perspectives.

Feedback in two ways communication not only with the beneficiaries but also with any related parties that may have indirect impacts of program implementation i.e. : nuclear family, stakeholders, Key Informal Individuals. You might be surprise that their spoken mind such enlightmen and finding for the post program even suistanabilty sphere!!

I recently co-authored a publication about public health evaluation practice tailored to different cultural and geographic context, among other factors. This publication is accompanied by a podcast to make this information accessible to a variety of audiences. The goal of the publication and podcast is to highlight best practices in the field. Thank you for allowing me to share this! https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/UHV7PZJZBGKQI2UVQUJQ/full https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/health-promotion-practice/episodes/S3--Ep--22-Exploring-the-Feasibility-and-Evaluation-of-American-Samoa--FSM-Healthy-Beverage-Projects-with-Dr--Angela-Sy--Mavis-Nitta--Dioreme-Navasca--Vaatausili-Tofaeono--and-Inou-Shomour-e24imge

Evaluation should try to find the right balance in celebrating achievements and areas of improvements. Celebrating provides affirmation to the objectives of the project.

Evaluate external evaluations in renewable energy projects by scrutinizing methodology, data sources, and independence. In subsea wind projects, ensure third-party assessments consider technology advancements. For offshore wind, assess if evaluations align with sustainability goals. Grid code compliance studies must validate data integrity and analytical rigor. In manufacturing, verify evaluations gauge process optimization accurately. Rigorous scrutiny ensures reliable insights from external assessments in renewable energy initiatives.

It very useful to think in terms of the different types of evaluation: implementation, process and impact evaluation for example. The more you can think in terms of implementation evaluation, then the more flexible your approach can be in the face of changing contexts and environments in which a program is operating.

I've learned to be very flexible and adaptable in implementing evaluations. I plan ahead and make contingency plans 'just in case.' However, I've also been surprised by the hiccups I might encounter. A degree of creativity combined with intimate knowledge of methods and stellar communication skills have always made finding a solution easier. My advice is to stay open to possibilities and focused on the purpose of the evaluation as well as the client's needs.