Background

The International Development Evaluation Association (IDEAS) has joined forces with regional evaluation networks; ReLAC and REDLACME to organize a joint 2017 conference to reflect, discuss and develop paths of action and evaluation practices to help improve the quality of life of people around the world, with special attention to Latin America and the Caribbean.

During this important conference, different approaches, methodologies, institutional frameworks and learning in monitoring and evaluation will be presented. The conference will take place in light of the global commitment for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to fight poverty, promote prosperity, protect the planet and enter into partnerships for all people to enjoy their rights, in an atmosphere of peace.

CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES

Conference themes

1. M & E and the SDGs the SDGs

The aim is to promote a dialogue on the challenges of monitoring and evaluating country progress towards the SDGS. Good practices and lessons learned in M&E will be presented on actions aimed at achieving the SDGs. Discussions will also address the complexity of implementing initiatives that favor sustainable development. Sub-themes are:

·      Monitoring systems for progress towards the SDGs.

·      Institutional and information challenges.

·      The participation of multilateral organizations.

·      New and emerging partnerships for achieving the SDGs.

Experiences in M&E supporting:

Agriculture Eradication of Poverty and Hunger; Health and wellbeing; Education; Sustainable Development and Climate Change; Employment; Infrastructure and Economic Development; Gender Equality and Reducing Inequalities; Sustainable Communities and Cities; and Actions for Peace and Justice.

2. M&E Approaches and Methodologies

This theme seeks to address the enormous M & E theoretical and practical diversity in the international community. Presentations and discussion will address theories and methods for M&E, and reflect on existing paradigms and on the challenges and benefits of participatory, culturally based M&E or other non-conventional approaches. Sub-themes are:

• Innovation in M&E theories and methodologies.
• Evaluative experiences, including in evaluating partnerships.
• Evaluation and participation.
• Transformative evaluation.
• Participation of children and adolescents in M&E.

3. Use of evidence from M&E systems

This theme seeks to reflect on the experiences of national and sub-national governments in the use of evidence from M & E systems. Sessions will take into account the advances, challenges and lessons learned in the generation and consolidation of M&E systems seeking the improvement of public actions. The theme will share experiences in capacity building in M&E, fostering a culture and institutionalization of evaluation, as well as the use of information technologies as key elements in building effective M&E systems. Sub-themes are:

·      Institutionalization of M & E.

·      Capacity building in M & E, including on evaluating partnerships.

·      Use of evidence for decision-making.

·      Technologies in M & E.

·      Culture and ethics of evaluation.

·      The role of international organizations in M & E.

4. Roles of evaluation networks and associations

The objective of this theme is to promote cooperation between networks of evaluation professionals to exchange experiences and generate recommendations to strengthen their sustainability and impact on the evaluation community and institutions. Best practices will be identified as well as the internal and contextual challenges that evaluation networks face to improve evaluation practices. This theme will also address the role of networks and associations in promoting an evaluation culture and the professionalization of evaluators, as well as the current limitations and the setbacks that have been faced. Sub-themes are:

• Experiences of advocacy of networks and associations in evaluation policies and systems.
• Contexts and enhancing factors.
• Cooperation and strengthening between networks and associations.
• The role of networks and associations in professionalization.
• Sustainability of networks and associations.
• Standards and ethics in M & E.

5. Evaluation agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean

This theme intends to reflect on the diverse regional perspectives on M & E based on the lessons learned on the implementation of the global 2020 evaluation agenda. This reflection will provide the basis for the development of a joint Latin American and Caribbean agenda for participating networks and other participating actors to strengthen evaluation as a means to improve actions that affect the people who live or transit in the region. Sub-themes are:

·      Young and Emerging Evaluators (in Spanish, EJE).

·      Evaluation and gender, human rights and inter-culturality.

·      Parliaments and evaluation.

·      Indigenous people and evaluation.

·      The role of universities and research / training centers.

·      The role of foundations, institutes, private organizations and the third sector, including new and emerging partnerships for the SDGs.

GUIDELINES FOR AND TYPES OF PRESENTATION

To present evaluative work relevant to the development and promotion of M&E among the evaluation community and engage with this community at the Joint Conference. The Review Committee will group the individual abstracts according to the conference themes, proposal content and presentation style. Proponents should consider the following guidelines:

1. Paper – Oral Presentations

Written papers should define the problems that the respective conference strand seeks to address, and/ or use case studies that critically engage with key issues using quality evidence.

Abstracts for Papers should be no longer than 400 words, submitted as a Microsoft Word document. Written papers in final form and selected papers will be orally presented during the Conference where time will be equally divided between the presentation and questions from the floor for response by the presenter. Paper presentation Abstracts should include the following:

1. Title of the paper, clearly indicating it is a Paper presentation
2. The conference theme and the respective sector that the paper addresses
3. Name, title/s and institutional affiliation of author/s
4. Name and title/s of presenting author
5. E-mail and telephone contact details of presenting author
6. The abstract format will include: objectives; main issues involved in the discussion; when relevant, include methodology and conclusions or perspectives
7. Abstracts must be submitted by email in Microsoft Word. Note: abstracts that are accepted will be included in the conference programme as they stand, and authors are required to ensure that they are adequately proof-read before submission.

2. Roundtable Sessions

Roundtables usually entail work-in-progress on an evaluation related project or paper. In these, authors make available a draft piece of work, manuscript, Terms of Reference and Concept Note, or other draft evaluation product – for debate to clarify, strengthen argumentation, consider next steps, and the like, and aim to assist the author to improve the output.

Abstracts for a Round Table should be no longer than 400 words, and submitted as a Microsoft Word document. Round Table presentation abstracts should include the following:

1. Indicate the abstract is for a Round Table paper presentation
2. Title of the paper
3. Name, title/s and institutional affiliation of author/s
4. Name and title/s of author presenting at the Round Table
5. E-mail and telephone contact details of presenting author
6. Abstracts may not be longer than 400 words. Abstracts should include information on the context, an overview of the evaluation and intention of the manuscript as work-in-progress, and specific issues for debate in the Round Table.

3. Infographic presentations (Posters)

Infographic presentations entail a poster size presentation with visual representation (graphs, diagrams, photos) as well as text. Infographics could depict an evaluation study including: questions asked in the study through methodology, data, findings and conclusion; and may include specific case-study/studies. Infographics will be displayed, and presenters need to be available to respond to questions asked about the infographic when on display.

Abstracts for Infographic presentations display should be no longer than 400 words, and submitted as a Microsoft Word document. Abstracts for infographic presentations should include the following:

1. Indication that the abstract is for a infographic presentations Poster presentation
2. Title of the infographic presentations Poster
3. Name and affiliation of author/s
4. Name and title of author/s who will be in attendance at the infographic presentations poster display
5. E-mail and telephone contact details of author/s who will be at the infographic presentations poster display
6. An abstract may not be longer than 400 words. It should include information on the context, an overview of the content of the infographic presentations Poster and a summary of results/conclusions.