NO ONE LEFT BEHIND

processes of behavioural change, (iv) the role of social
media, and (v) the long, non-linear causal chains
through which changes are produced.
There need to be new ways of thinking, as complexity
doesn’t work within linear theories of change. There is
no linear relationship between cause and effect, and
there is a false dichotomy between thinking and doing.
In this situation, should evaluation look like more
monitoring? What if communities own both the implementation
and monitoring of SDGs? In this case, does
evaluation need to be independent?
The process of interactions is the outcome. Therefore
the process needs different forms of communication for
different stakeholders and purposes. Evaluation must
understand dynamic interrelations in context without
assuming. The scale of effort and cost may not be related
to the scale of effect (reality often gets in the way).
Therefore evaluators have new roles and definitions: the
evaluator can illuminate the system to infuse accountability;
communities may play the role of evaluator and
action researchers; the evaluator can act as a facilitator
and/or a communicator; and the evaluator can be an
advocate for evidence-based decisions.
Bob Williams and
Sjon van’t Hof,
Wicked Solutions: A
systems approach
to complex problems,
2015, http://
www.bobwilliams.
co.nz/Systems_
Resources.html
Boundaries Perspectives Interactions
The workshop stressed the importance of being aware
of boundaries, perspectives and interactions of complexity.
Boundaries are created with every definition
and decision, so it is important to be careful and reflective
when setting boundaries. It is also important
to recognize who decides on the boundaries and who
is left out. Narrow boundaries might allow for deeper
examination, but they may leave people out. Broad
boundaries may be more inclusive, but they can lead
to thin interventions. In addition, it is important to
ask how theory of change is important in addressing
complexity. Can theory of change address or capture
complex situations?
Evaluators need to stay open to many different perspectives
beyond scope boundaries, including being
mindful of the power balance in evaluation: Who
decides? Who participates? Who speaks? Whose
measures are being used? Whose questions are being
asked? Whose decisions are being made? The solution
is to work through principles such as gender equality,
human rights, ethics and equity.
In this context, policymakers also have an important
role as policy is an “ongoing contract” and democratic
accountability never finishes. Evaluation should be a
partner to policy. Evaluators need to be clear for the
audience and relevant to the discourse by getting support
from advocacy experts. There is also a need to bring
evaluators, policymakers and civil society together for
collaborative learning.
Learning new ways of conducting evaluations is a must
when facing the complexity of the SDGs. Evaluators
may have to expand the evidence universe, not just
rely on results-based management. Through evaluation,
expectations of interventions can be challenged.
Evaluation helps to find what is missing.
Be mindful of the power balance in evaluation:
Who decides? Who participates? Who speaks?
Whose measures? Whose questions? Whose
decisions?
Evaluating the Sustainable Development Goals with
an Equity-focused and Gender-responsive Lens 19