The role of youth in evaluation

The role of youth in evaluation teaser image

In today's world, we are facing a series of interconnected global challenges—sometimes referred to as a ‘polycrisis’. For young people (and many not-so-young people), it often feels like issues such as climate change, social injustice, and inequality have always been a reality.

These crises demand urgent political action and a fundamental shift in how we tackle them, especially in terms of who gets to shape the solutions. Conventional solutions have often fallen short, and it’s clear that meaningful, and systemic transformation is needed. But how do we make this happen?

At the recent gLOCAL 2024 event Empowering Young and Emerging Evaluators to contribute to transformational change Jane E. Davidson pointed out that evaluation has the potential to drive this transformation:

Evaluation is not just about assessing performance “by leveraging evaluation as a tool for evidence-based decision-making, we can drive positive change across all sectors and enhance the well-being of various communities through targeted impacts…. [and] work toward an equitable and sustainable future for all.”

Her insights strongly align with our belief in evaluation’s transformative role and the importance of diverse voices in driving change. The urgency is clear, we must transform how decisions are made and who is involved in this process.

For evaluation to reach its full potential, the field needs to evolve. Diverse perspectives are essential, particularly those of groups like Young and Emerging Evaluators (YEEs), Indigenous, women and other marginalised gender identities, etc., who often carry the weight of current challenges but remain underrepresented. YEEs bring fresh ideas and innovative viewpoints that are essential in shaping more inclusive and sustainable solutions for the future. Young and Emerging Evaluators are not just the next generation, but essential drivers of change today. By integrating different perspectives, we can build a more dynamic, equitable, and inclusive evaluation field that is equipped to meet today’s challenges.

Challenges and opportunities for young and emerging evaluators

The monitoring and evaluation (M&E) field, particularly in the Global South, is influenced by deep-rooted historical and social power structures. These dynamics often create significant barriers for YEE, from limited access to resources, opportunities, and support, as well as constraints imposed by established power hierarchies. Overcoming these barriers is complex, but one thing is clear: We, the evaluation community, must create safe, inclusive entry points for people who want to work in the field. These spaces need to foster connection, experience sharing, and continuous collaborative learning. By opening up these spaces and creating an environment of trust, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, we can unlock the full potential of YEEs and support them to actively contribute their unique perspectives and creative solutions to the evaluation process. Building such spaces is not just beneficial—it’s essential for driving meaningful, systemic change within the field.

As Claudia Olvarría pointed out in the same gLOCAL 2024 event, YEEs have two essential qualities for transformative evaluation: Curiosity and passion. Curiosity drives YEEs to seek deeper understanding, while passion fuels their energy to fully engage in the evaluation process. YEEs also bring innovative methods and approaches, fresh practices and perspectives that can push the field in exciting new directions.

Career guide for young and emerging evaluators

In collaboration with EvalYouth, the German Institute of Development Evaluation (DEval), and P2p+, the Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI)has developed a new content section on its BetterEvaluation Knowledge Platform to support Young and Emerging Evaluators  - the Evaluation Career Guide. This curated knowledge pathway offers up-to-date information for individuals starting out in the M&E field.

The guide is designed with YEEs in mind, addressing the specific challenges they often face at the beginning of their evaluation career. The structure and content focus of the guide builds on work done by  P2p+, who collated a list of the most frequently asked questions by YEEs at the P2p+ mentoring sessions. The content was co-developed by a young and emerging evaluator consultant, Maria Montenegro, alongside the core project team consisting of Anna Warnholz (DEval), Alice Macfarlan (GEI), and Gabriela Rentería Flores (EvalYouth), with early but important input from Mariana Branco (IEG) and Helena Stadtmueller (DEval).

This guide offers practical advice, insights from other YEEs, experienced evaluators, and strategies for advancing their careers. This guide creates a space for exploration, reflection and dialogue around the issues that are on all our minds and that young and emerging evaluators (YEE) grapple with.  If you are a Young and Emerging Evaluator, we welcome you to go through the guide!

Click here to start building a career in evaluation

What’s in the guide?

The guide covers key areas that are important for someone starting in the evaluation field. It answers essential questions such as:

  1. Why work in evaluation
    This section explores the importance of evaluation and how it can drive positive change, while also challenging common misconceptions about the field.
  2. What a career in evaluation looks like
    Learn about the different actors in the evaluation ecosystem, the roles available, and the potential career paths. This helps YEE understand where they might fit in and how they can start building their career.
  3. What I need to know to work in evaluation
    From essential competencies to transferable skills, this part of the guide provides insights into what it takes to succeed, including advice from seasoned professionals sharing their experiences.
  4. How to advance your career in evaluation
    This section offers guidance on building a professional network, accessing training and mentorship, and gaining hands-on experience. It also provides tips for finding opportunities to learn and grow in the field.

The guide is interactive, with tasks and images designed to make learning both engaging and accessible. We believe that evaluation can be fun and that the field needs young, motivated people who are ready to make a difference.

Empowering young and emerging evaluators

The Evaluation Career Guide isn’t just about finding a job—it’s about empowerment. By providing some of the tools and knowledge YEEs need, the guide helps them become active participants in shaping the future of evaluation. It’s about giving YEEs the confidence to engage fully in evaluation processes, contribute their unique perspectives, and challenge existing power structures to tackle the global challenges.

This initiative is also a platform for building community and solidarity. The guide provides many links to external resources, including communities of practice and VOPEs, and tips for building networks.  By creating spaces for networking, collaboration, and shared learning, YEEs can connect closer with the broader evaluation community. These spaces help YEEs overcome the isolation many experience and empower them to contribute to transformative evaluation practices. As Rosenstreich (2020) explains, empowerment is about expanding access to power and enabling minoritized groups to define their futures on their own terms. This guide helps dismantle entrenched barriers and encourages YEEs to actively participate in creating a more sustainable, equitable world.

By coming together, YEEs can be a powerful force for change, bringing fresh energy, innovative ideas, and new solutions to the complex challenges we face today. The Evaluation Career Guide is an important step towards ensuring that YEEs are not just included in the conversation but leading it.

Get involved

Help us further develop this content by sharing your career experiences through our Career Pathways in Evaluation Survey, including:

  • Your experiences in building a career M&E.
  • Challenging and rewarding aspects of your career.
  • Your advice for pursuing a career in M&E.

Click here to complete the survey

If you are a young and/or emerging evaluator who would like to contribute to this project, please get in touch via the BetterEvaluation contact form. We welcome contributions in the form of blogs on related topics, recommended resources, and other types of content. And of course, we’d love any feedback or suggestions for improvement on the new guide!