EvalYear: South Africa launches its celebrations

EvalYear is well underway around the world. Here are some of the ways South Africa will be marking EvalYear. Thanks to Liezille Jacobs from SAMEA (South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association) for this information.

Official EvalYear Programme Launch

The South African Monitoring and Evaluation Society (SAMEA) officially launched its International Year of Evaluation programme of events on 19th March. The Hon. Jeff Radebe, MP, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, unveiled the South African EvalYear Declaration and performed the lighting of the EvalYear Torch (pictured). 

In his speech, he expressed his delight that,

Going on, he praised the EvalYear campaign efforts to create enthusiasm for the use of evaluation:

"I fervently hope that the International Year of Evaluation campaign will mobilise millions of our people around the globe to promote the use of evidence derived from evaluations to improve how governments work, and its impact on citizens and so contribute towards eradication of the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality." (Source: Speech by Hon. Jeff Radebe, 19 March 2015. Page 9)

Left to right: Mr Jabu Mathe, Director: Evaluation, DPME, Ms Nolwazi Gasa, Acting Director-General, DPME, Hon. Jeff Radebe, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Prof Imraan Valodia, Dean of Commerce, Law and Management, Wits University; and Prof Richard Levin, SAMEA Chairperson.

Source: SAMEA Photo Album - Launch of the International Year of Evaluation in South Africa. Distributed in SAMEA email.

5th Biennial SAMEA Conference: Using Evaluation to Improve People's Lives

South Africa's EvalYear programme will culminate with SAMEA’s 5th Biennial Conference under the theme 'Using evaluation to improve people’s lives' from 12-16 October 2015 at the Hilton Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg.

Professor Richard Levin, SAMEA Chairperson writes that:

"Through the theme of the conference, 'Using evaluation to improve people's lives', there will be exploration and discussion of evaluation use for tangible improvements in the lives of people, this against the backdrop of an intense international debate on the Sustainable Development Goals supplanting of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). As we further build a community that supports guides and strengthens M&E in SA, this event will serve as the premier opportunity to engage in these and other international and local debates, while simultaneously building capacity and meaningfully contributing to evaluation scholarship, practice and utilisation." (Levin, 5th Biennial SAMEA Conference First Announcement, page 2)

You can find more information on the Conference Website or by emailing  info@sameaconference.co.za. Download the First Announcement Flyer here.

Key Conference Dates

​20th April, 2015: Registration and Abstract Submission Opens

22nd June, 2015: Abstract Submission Closes

11th September, 2015: Early Bird Cut-off date

12th-16th October, 2015: Conference

EvalYear Events in South Africa

There's a busy year ahead for South African evaluators. SAMEA have put together a programme detailing the official EvalYear events being run around the country. You can download the full list of events here, which also lists short courses being run around the country throughout the year. To give you an idea of what to expect, we've listed some of the main events below:

April

May

June

July

September

October

Getting Involved

Are you an evaluator, an evaluation manager, or an evaluation user in South Africa? Share with us in a comment below how you are planning on getting involved in South Africa's EvalYear.

Sources

Levin (2015) 5th Biennial SAMEA Conference First Announcement [Press Release]. Retrieved from http://sameaconference.co.za/Samea%20First%20Announcement.pdf

Radebe, J. (2015, March 19). Speech during the Launch of International Year of Evaluation, Wits University, Johannesburg. [Distributed in SAMEA email].

SAMEA (2015, March 19) Photo Album - Launch of the International Year of Evaluation in South Africa. [Distributed in SAMEA email].