Unpacking Use: What does it mean to use and utilize evaluations?
Panel Discussion | Hybrid
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Organized by:
UNICEF
About the Event
About the Session: Unpacking Use: What Does It Mean to Use and Utilize Evaluations?
There has always been a focus on generating new and high-quality evidence by conducting evaluations, improving the quality of evaluations, and deploying robust methodologies. However, there has been limited emphasis on the actual utilization of evaluation findings. This panel discussion takes a leap ahead by exploring the utilization of evaluations by a diverse set of stakeholders. Evaluations are conducted by various entities including governments, the private sector, academic institutions, civil society organizations, universities, and international multilateral organizations, each with distinct objectives. Yet, when considering the utilization of evaluation findings, the landscape becomes much more diverse. The utilization of evaluation findings encompasses a wide range of purposes, from enhancing program designs by program focal points, to informing policymaking and improving budget allocations by governments, to supporting research and publication endeavors by academic institutions, and more.
This session brings together UNICEF, private sector, government, as well as young evaluators for a discussion on unpacking what does meaningful use of evaluations and how it can be tracked. UNICEF India's research and evaluation specialist will make a presentation on UNICEF's lessons of examining use of its own evidence.
This 1.5-hour session aims to get perspectives of different stakeholders within the overall Monitoring and Evaluation ecosystem, on the various uses of evaluations. The session will draw focus on some of the best practices that aid the use and utilization of evaluations. The panelists will also speak about some key barriers or challenges around evaluation use. This will be followed by the panel's reflections and recommendations.
Some Themes which will be covered during the discussion:
Examples of good use of evidence, specifically evaluation findings. How can one track the use and utilization of the findings?
Challenges faced while using evaluation findings. Were there any unintended uses/results following an evaluation?
Some best practices deployed by organizations to circumvent some of the barriers that limit the use of evaluations.
Examination of contextual factors that affect the use of evaluations.
There has always been a focus on generating new and high-quality evidence by conducting evaluations, improving the quality of evaluations, and deploying robust methodologies. However, there has been limited emphasis on the actual utilization of evaluation findings. This panel discussion takes a leap ahead by exploring the utilization of evaluations by a diverse set of stakeholders. Evaluations are conducted by various entities including governments, the private sector, academic institutions, civil society organizations, universities, and international multilateral organizations, each with distinct objectives. Yet, when considering the utilization of evaluation findings, the landscape becomes much more diverse. The utilization of evaluation findings encompasses a wide range of purposes, from enhancing program designs by program focal points, to informing policymaking and improving budget allocations by governments, to supporting research and publication endeavors by academic institutions, and more.
This session brings together UNICEF, private sector, government, as well as young evaluators for a discussion on unpacking what does meaningful use of evaluations and how it can be tracked. UNICEF India's research and evaluation specialist will make a presentation on UNICEF's lessons of examining use of its own evidence.
This 1.5-hour session aims to get perspectives of different stakeholders within the overall Monitoring and Evaluation ecosystem, on the various uses of evaluations. The session will draw focus on some of the best practices that aid the use and utilization of evaluations. The panelists will also speak about some key barriers or challenges around evaluation use. This will be followed by the panel's reflections and recommendations.
Some Themes which will be covered during the discussion:
Examples of good use of evidence, specifically evaluation findings. How can one track the use and utilization of the findings?
Challenges faced while using evaluation findings. Were there any unintended uses/results following an evaluation?
Some best practices deployed by organizations to circumvent some of the barriers that limit the use of evaluations.
Examination of contextual factors that affect the use of evaluations.
Speakers
| Name | Title | Biography |
|---|---|---|
| Professor Garima Dadhich | Associate Professor, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs | Prof. Garima Dadhich is an Associate Professor with the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Govt. of India. She is heading the School of Business Environment, Centre for Business and Human Rights and Centre for Responsible Business Advisory at IICA. |
| Dr. Prashant Kumar Hota | President & Group Head, CSR, Education & Head, Odisha Corporate Communications, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd | Dr. Prashant Hota made his transition into the private sector when he joined Vedanta Resources in Odisha in 2007 and subsequently in Jindal Steel & Power. During his present stint in Jindal Steel & Power in Odisha and Chhattisgarh Business has been acknowledged by Global Certifying agencies as a sustainable do-gooder for the Community for which several national and international awards have been conferred upon JSPL. Besides heading the CSR & Education of JSPL at the group level, Dr. Hota was heading the Group’s Sustainability for the last 5 years. |
| Umesh Jadhav | Co-founder, EvalYouth India | Umesh is an impact professional with 9+ years of diverse experience working with Govt and NPOs. He is a co-founder of the EvalYouth India. Umesh also works with the University of Chicago Trust India as an Engagement Manager and governance and mentors’ young policy professionals. |
Moderators
| Name | Title | Biography |
|---|---|---|
| Maaike Bijker | Chief of Evidence, UNICEF India | Maaike Bijker is the Chief of Evidence (Data, Research and Evaluation) at UNICEF India, with 10+ years of experience in research and evaluation internationally. She leads the Evidence for Children unit at UNICEF India, which is responsible for strategically prioritizing and technically supporting UNICEF-led evaluations, research, studies and monitoring activities commissioned by UNICEF. In addition, Maaike leads UNICEF’s external capacity building efforts in M&E, supporting partnerships for evidence across all UNICEF programmatic domains. Before joining UNICEF 5 years ago, Maaike worked as a Senior Research Manager at J-PAL South Asia in Delhi, leading a number of randomized-controlled trials in the areas of immunization, adolescent empowerment, education and environmental sustainability. She previously worked with Dalberg in London, SNEHA in Mumbai and the University of Cambridge, UK on research and evaluations. Maaike holds a Masters from LSE, UK, and a Masters from the University of Cambridge, UK. |