Topics covered:

• The data revolution and the implications for international development
• Case studies illustrating applications of big data in a development evaluation
• The promise of big data for monitoring and evaluation – and the challenges
• A framework for integrating big data into monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL)
• Adaptive Programming and developing a ‘Culture of Evaluation’
• Managing big data inclusive evaluations and understanding the big data ecosystem
• EvalC3 and the development of prediction models and the representation of Theories of Change
• Data Clinics: Design Thinking in M&E for choosing the right tools.
• Introducing Blockchains and IoTs and their use in Data Capture, Storage, and Dissemination (Lessons from the Field)
• Case Studies of Application (Government, Private Sector, Development Sector and Tech Industry)

Speakers include Michael Bamberger, Rick Davies and Valentine Gandhi

The 2018 Asian Evaluation Week (AEW), co-sponsored by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Ministry of Finance Asia-Pacific Finance and Development Institute and ADB’s Independent Evaluation Department, will be held from 10 to 14 September 2018 in Chengdu, PRC.

The inaugural AEW was held in Xi’an, PRC in September 2016 and the second, themed “Evaluation for Policymaking,” was held in Hangzhou, PRC in September 2017. During these AEWs, participants confirmed the AEW as a highly relevant forum in promoting partnerships and knowledge sharing and advancing the importance of evaluation for policy making in the region.

Theme

The theme of the 2018 AEW is “Making Evaluation Work at the Country Level” which recognizes that evaluation is increasingly regarded by countries as critical for public policy both from accountability and learning perspectives. The AEW will examine various dimensions of how evaluation is used and can be supported at the country level.

Objectives

The AEW objectives are as follows:

• To provide a venue for knowledge sharing on the latest and cutting edge ideas on evaluation within Asia, and between Asia and other regions, such as Africa and Latin America.
• To enable countries to share experiences on their evaluation approaches and works and gain knowledge on how to manage and use evaluation in their country context.
• To allow experts and development partners to showcase progress in their evaluation works and recent practices on evaluation.
• To increase awareness on the use and role of evaluation in development effectiveness.

Full details on this event are available on the ADB website. Please contact the organisers with any questions regarding the event.

Development Worldwide, registered association (DWW), Slovak Evaluation Society and Czech Evaluation Society have the pleasure to invite you to the European Program for Development Evaluation Training – EPDET 2018, to continue the tradition of this European summer school.

Mini IPDETs in Europe have been offered since 2007. EPDET is overview training that provides a systematic approach to evaluation. The core curriculum of the EPDET training is a shortened version of the successful two- week core course of the summer school IPDET – International Program for Development Evaluation Training.

EPDET 2018 will be provided in English, by Dr. Linda G. Morra Imas, Dr. Ray C. Rist, and MSc. Daniel Svoboda. The training is recommended for evaluators and managers of development projects and programs. EPDET graduates will obtain Certificate of completion of the mini-IPDET and will be offered by one-year free membership to IDEAS.

The registration fee is 1840 EUR (46 000 CZK or 2230 USD). The fee includes five days accommodation in a single room, full board, coffee breaks, and all tuition expenses including training materials for participants. International travel, taxi, visa costs and insurance are not included in the registration fee. The registration fee is not subject to VAT imposition.

For the participants with their own accommodation in Prague, the registration fee is 1450 EUR (36 300 CZK or 1760 USD). A 15% early bird discount will be applied to fees paid by 31 May 2018: 1600 EUR (40 000 CZK or 1940 USD) with accommodation or 1210 EUR (30 300 CZK or 1470 USD) without accommodation.

Wi-Fi is available in the hotel premises. Full board will be arranged beginning with dinner on Sunday 16th September 2018 and finishing with lunch on Friday 21st September 2018. As space is limited, applicants to confirm their interest by completing the online application form by 31st March 2018.

Questions on the training programme should be directed to the EPDET coordinator, Mr. Daniel Svoboda (svoboda@dww.cz). Further information, payment instructions, and details on the training will be distributed to registered applicants.

Further details on the programme can be found at http://www.dww.cz/english.php?page=epdet1.

Evaluation has never been more exciting, yet challenging. Our context is changing at a dizzying rate.

There is an ongoing and urgent need to move towards culturally safe, appropriate and relevant evaluations that contribute to better outcomes for Indigenous peoples. There is an increasing appetite from funders to explore how innovation can solve some of our most complex social and environmental challenges. Governments are embracing these new approaches and demanding real time evidence of what is working.

Philanthropy and not-for-profits are transforming too. At the same time new players are doing the work traditionally associated with evaluation, in innovative ways, with access to more data than ever before. In this context, it is critical that evaluation transforms to remain relevant, meet the market and meaningfully contribute to the changing face of Australasia.
We invite you to explore this changing context and what it might mean for you and the areas in which you work with our aes2018 conference theme: transformations. As we explore what these transformations mean for the role of evaluation and evaluators, we hope to equip you with new questions, networks and ways of thinking. Join us in helping shape the future of evaluation in this changing context.

Note: This is not an IDEAS organised event. Any questions should be directed to the event organisers.

The leading theme of the EES2018 Conference is “Evaluation for more resilient societies”. The Conference offers 5 days of debates on evaluation in times of financial, geopolitical, environmental and humanitarian crises.

After a decade of turbulence in Europe and the world, we need to focus on the contribution from evaluation. Crises, inherently, lead to change, positive and negative. What is the role of evaluation in understanding the multiple crises currently ongoing? Which are our collective responses? How can evaluation help make societies more resilient? Evaluation for resilient societies will be the leading theme of the EES2018 biennial conference. At the same time, the conference will provide the traditional opportunities for exchanging on evaluation politics, capacity, systems, research, methods, communication and use.

The EES will organise the Conference together with the Hellenic Evaluation Society in Thessaloniki, at the crossroads of continents, countries and cultures. Greece is also facing complex economic problems, while remaining on the frontline of Europe’s asylum and migration challenges. The very word crisis originates in Greek language, where it means judgment or decision. So evaluation and crisis go hand in hand. We need good krisis, good judgment and critical thinking, to overcome the crisis. We need evaluation to deal with crisis. Greece represents the perfect stage to debate how evaluation may help societies in Europe and beyond respond to the challenges of crises.

NOTE: This is not an IDEAS organised event. Any questions related to the event should be sent to the event organisers.