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UNEG Professional Development Seminar 2025
The PDS are peer training sessions on topics which emerged as highly useful in evaluation work. The seminar consists of parallel sessions running either throughout the day or half day. PDS sessions are coordinated and organized by one or more UNEG member agency who are responsible for preparing the session agenda, developing the content, contacting external experts/speakers (if needed) and conducting the training session.
Participation
UNEG members and invited guests are welcome to attend both the EPE and PDS. There is no fee to attend the EPE or PDS, but participants must cover their own travel and associated costs.
Register here for events that are part of EvalWeek (if attending in person).
12 Feb 2025
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From Evaluation to Action. How to make your evaluation practice more principled and transformative
Activities:
Lead facilitator: Michelle Tarsilla, Chief, Humanitarian Evaluation, UNICEF, mtarsilla@unicef.org
Summary: Evaluation practitioners are expected to follow professional standards in order to enhance the technical rigor and acceptability of their work. However, ensuring the “perfect compliance” between one’s own practice and oft-aspirational principles can be quite challenging with the risk that evaluation managers and evaluation consultants get overwhelmed by the increasing number of principles and dimensions that they are being asked to abide by and include, respectively, in their evaluation conceptual frameworks. This workshop will endeavor to provide practical guidance on how to reconcile the vast array of principles underlying contemporary evaluation practice, provide experience-based recommendations on how to apply them holistically to equip evaluation managers with the tools to enhance the capacity of the national evaluation societies or private firms/vendors rendering evaluation services to their respective Agencies/ Organizations. The workshop will also build on some of the most recent Guidance endorsed by UNEG.
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Visualizing and mapping evaluative evidence for decision-making
Activities:
Lead facilitator: Shivit Bakrania, Evaluation Specialist, UNDP IEO, shivit.bakrania@undp.org
Co-facilitators: Andrea Cook, Executive Director, UN SDG System Wide Evaluation Office, andrea.cook@un.org; Kerry Albright, Deputy Director, UNICEF EO, kalbright@unicef.org; and Deborah McWhinney, Senior Evaluation Advisor, UNFPA IEO, mcwhinney@unfpa.org
Summary: Organizational success is more likely when decisions are based on rigorous evidence about what works, how it works, and for whom. However, integrating such evidence into policies or programs can be challenging due to the overwhelming amount of information and time constraints on decision-makers. Evidence maps help by visually organizing the available evaluative evidence on specific topics, facilitating more informed, efficient, and transparent decision-making.
Typically presented in a matrix format, evidence maps highlight where evidence exists and where it is lacking. They are beneficial in several ways.
- Identifying gaps. Evidence maps point to areas with limited research or evaluations, guiding future efforts.
- Summarizing evidence. They offer a comprehensive overview of the evidence.
- Efficient resource allocation. Decision-makers can prioritize resources toward well-supported interventions or areas needing more evaluation.
- Enhancing transparency. By presenting information in an accessible format, evidence maps make it easier for non-experts to grasp complex data.
- Promoting evidence-based decisions. They support the development of policies and practices grounded in solid research, improving the effectiveness of interventions.
Learning Objectives. This interactive workshop will introduce evidence maps, an online interactive and visual tool that can support evidence informed decision-making. Workshop participants will learn.
- What evidence maps are and what can they be used for
- How to interpret and use evidence maps
- About the utility and value of evidence maps for summarizing bodies of evidence, identifying evidence gaps, enhancing transparency and accessibility, and promoting evidence-informed decision-making
- About different types of evidence maps and different approaches to designing them, including approaches based upon co-production
- How to develop an evidence map, from developing the framework to collecting and coding the studies to be included in a map
- How to encourage stakeholder engagement in the production and use of evidence maps as a basis for evidence-informed decision making
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Reflecting Ethical Principles in Evaluation Practice
Activities:
Lead facilitators: Saara Ehlert, Evaluation Officer, UNHCR, ehlert@unhcr.org and Silvina Coria, Director, OIO OPCW, silvina.coria@opcw.org, UNEG Working Group on Ethics in Evaluation
Summary: This session will focus on supporting practical implementation of the UNEG Ethical principles for Evaluation - drawing on case examples and real-life challenges from UNEG members. Discussion will focus on both common concerns arising in designing, contracting and implementing ethical evaluations as well as new and emerging challenges.
Learning Objectives:
The aim is to support participants to build capacity to apply the principles in their day-to-day work, and to share and support colleagues to do the same. This will include new and emerging ethical challenges.
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Mainstreaming groups in situations of vulnerability in evaluations
Activities:
Lead facilitator: Aditi Bhola, Programme Management Officer, OHCHR, aditi.bhola@un.org
Other facilitators. Agnes Nyaga, OHCHR, anyaga@un.org
Summary: This joint PDS with the Young and Emerging Evaluators WG looks at mainstreaming groups in situations of vulnerability in evaluations. These include but not are limited to, women and girls, all children, youth, persons with disabilities, people living with HIV and AIDS, older persons, Indigenous peoples, refugees, internally displaced people, migrants, minorities, stateless people and all people facing discrimination
Participants will acquire the most recent knowledge of the key approaches and methodologies used in mainstreaming groups in situations of vulnerability in evaluations, with practical examples, good practices and exercises.
Learning objectives: The goal of the seminar is to promote greater inclusivity and equity in evaluations. By the end of the seminar, with this knowledge, participants will be able to reflect on their work, to ensure that mainstreaming groups in situations in vulnerability in considered in the planning, scope, design, implementation and reporting of evaluations. The seminar will also provide space for participants to conduct hands-on real-life exercises, engage in peer-review of key evaluation documents and exchange/propose innovative approaches.
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Advancing Impact Evaluation in Climate Change Interventions: Challenges, Insights, and Collaborative Solutions
Activities:
Note: Half-day PDS on Wednesday 12th January morning
Lead facilitator: Susumu Yoshida, Evaluation Specialist - Implementation Science, Independent Evaluation Unit (IEU), Green Climate Fund (GCF), syoshida@gcfund.org
Other facilitators: Daisuke Horikoshi, Principal Evaluation Officer, IEU GCF, dhorikoshi@gcfund.org and Marco D'Errico, Impact Evaluation Officer, IEU GCF, mderrico@gcfund.org
Summary: This session will explore the challenges of conducting impact evaluations for climate interventions within the framework of the Green Climate Fund's (GCF) multi-year Learning-Oriented Real-Time Impact Assessment (LORTA) programme. These challenges are not unique to GCF but resonate across the United Nations network and beyond. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences, presenting both the challenges and impact evidence from their respective organizations. The session aims to foster peer learning, encourage the exchange of insights, and facilitate discussions on innovative solutions. Additionally, it will provide a platform to identify concrete opportunities for collaboration on impact evaluations. Building on the discussions initiated at the Global Impact Evaluation Forum 2024 in New York, this session seeks to deepen the dialogue and strengthen partnerships for advancing robust impact evaluation practices.
Session format
- Welcome and Introductions (30 minutes) Icebreaker and overview of session objectives.
- Challenges in Impact Evaluation (45 minutes) Interactive discussion where participants share experiences and key hurdles.
- Coffee Break (15 minutes)
- Exploring Opportunities (45 minutes) - Collaborative discussion on potential solutions and innovative approaches.
- Academic Dialogue (60 minutes) Presentations by 2–3 professors showcasing relevant research, followed by a Q&A session.
- Wrap-Up and Closing (15 minutes) Summary of key insights, next steps, and closing remarks.
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