Equitable Evaluation Collective
Is your evaluation garden flourishing?
As evaluators, we are responsible for nurturing a thriving ecosystem where every voice can be heard and valued. But are our current practices truly equitable and inclusive?
ChEW and the Social Investment Consultancy (TSIC) have come together to advance thinking and practice on more equitable evaluative practice in the UK social sector, through a collective model: Equitable Evaluation Collective (EEC).
In our recent report, "Evaluation as an Ecosystem: Cultivating Equity in the Garden of Transformation," we explore the current state of evaluation practices in the UK charity sector through the lens of equity.
Drawing on insights from 21 globally recognised documents, interviews with leading experts, and the invaluable perspectives of the Fair Evaluation Working Group (comprised of individuals with lived experience of inequitable evaluation), the report reveals both the promising blooms and the persistent weeds in our evaluation garden.
We uncover how transparency, inclusivity, equity, and a holistic approach are the essential nutrients for a healthy evaluation ecosystem. Yet, we also confront the "weeds" of trauma, exclusion, and marginalisation, the "pests" of unfair compensation and cultural insensitivity, and the "diseases" of power dynamics and evaluation bias that threaten to choke growth.
The report makes a powerful call to action for a transformative shift in evaluation practices, urging us to:
● Centre equity as the core purpose of evaluation, not just an optional extra.
● Build strong community partnerships based on mutual respect and shared power.
● Value diverse knowledge and lived experiences and challenge traditional notions of expertise.
Ultimately, we envision a future where evaluation serves as a powerful tool for social justice, empowerment, and accountability, supporting the communities most affected by oppression and marginalisation.