80 - State of the Evaluation Ecosystem in India: Implications for Pathways, Practice, and Policy Within the Country and Beyond

Abstract Information: In spite of the evident benefits of program evaluations in improving the effectiveness of public policies, ensuring efficient use of public funds, and uplifting the voices of those impacted, it has not been a common practice in the social development space in India. Historically, programs have focused on assessing outputs and, in rare cases, outcomes, but never longer term impacts. In the absence of institutionalized evaluations, budget allocations and future planning falters, thus bringing sustainability of even successful programs into jeopardy. Although the field of evaluation in India has been evolving in the recent decades, there hasn't been a systematic attempt at documenting these advancements. The purpose of this research is three fold: documenting the growth of evaluation as a field in India; exploring the different formal and informal pathways that create a pipeline in the field, and uplifting diverse lived experiences of young and seasoned evaluators that help foster innovation and sustainability in the field. Eventually, this research would not only highlight the state of the evaluation field in India, but also open it up to the border world of evaluation leaders, thus making way for future partnerships and global collaborations.