Creating a Safe Space to Amplify Marginalized Voices—Using Trauma-Informed Approaches in Evaluation

Abstract Information: In 2024, the escalating importance of understanding trauma intersects with the challenges faced by communities worldwide – from environmental crises to the health and economic aftermath of COVID-19 and the closing of civic spaces controlled by autocratic regimes. As evaluators, we often engage with individuals and communities affected by these global challenges, who may have undergone traumatic experiences. Traditional data collection methodologies, lacking a trauma-informed lens, can inadvertently increase participants’ risk of re-traumatization and affect the authenticity of the data. Applying trauma-informed approaches to data collection provides an empathetic, safe, and non-judgmental environment for participants to authentically respond and share their stories, yielding higher-quality data. Importantly, these approaches also allow the possibility of collecting data from vulnerable populations whose voices are sometimes excluded from research because of the high risk of re-traumatization. This Think Tank aims to foster a dialogue surrounding effective strategies, best practices, and challenges encountered by evaluators when implementing trauma-informed approaches to data collection. Led by practitioners experienced in research and evaluation using trauma-informed methodologies in various contexts, including post-conflict scenarios in Colombia, displaced populations in Iraq, Syrian refugees in Turkey, and survivors of human rights violations in Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Myanmar, this session will delve into the intricacies of trauma-informed practices. The session will begin with facilitators providing an overview of the anatomy and physiology of trauma and its significance in evaluations for participant safety and reliability of the data collected. The initial discussion will also address the critical issue of secondary trauma among evaluators themselves. Subsequently, participants will be divided into breakout groups tasked with discussing and formulating two to three principles or approaches aimed at enhancing the trauma-informed nature of data collection strategies. These breakout sessions will focus on principles applicable before, during, and after data collection, enabling participants to delve into specific aspects of the entire data lifecycle. One breakout group will be focused on discussing strategies to mitigate secondary trauma – the development of symptoms that mirror those of post-traumatic stress disorder in individuals who directly hear about the traumatic experiences of others, such as service providers, counselors, and members of civil society organizations who are working with persons who have experienced trauma first-hand. Following the breakout discussions, facilitators will guide a plenary session where participants will share and deliberate on the principles crafted within their respective groups and bring trauma-informed approaches to the heart of our discussion. By doing so, we are responding to our time's immediate challenges and laying the groundwork for a more inclusive, sustainable and forward-looking evaluation field. By leveraging collective experiences and expertise, the Think Tank aims to enrich the understanding and practice of trauma-informed data collection methodologies.