248 - From Margins to Mural: Amplifying Voices for Decolonizing Evaluation through Art and Action

Abstract Information: The traditional structures of knowledge production and dissemination in monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) are increasingly recognized as colonial, privileging Western paradigms and silencing diverse voices from the Majority World (traditionally and incorrectly referred to as the Global South)
This paper presents a pioneering approach to decolonizing MERL by leveraging journals not merely as platforms for knowledge transfer but as active sites for action, change, and co-production of knowledge. Through "The Commitment Mural," a co-created mural with inputs from global MERL practitioners, we challenge conventional publication and evaluation practices, advocating for a shift towards inclusivity, equity, and community-led knowledge production. The mural, accompanied by an ongoing data collection via a live Google Form, serves as both a reflective tool and a commitment register, encouraging continuous engagement and contributions towards decolonizing MEL. This initiative embodies the conference's theme of "Amplifying and Empowering Voices in Evaluation" by demonstrating an actionable framework for inclusivity and empowerment in knowledge production and peer-review journal publications. It highlights the need for evaluation practices to embrace non-traditional methods, encouraging a reimagining of roles that journals, evaluators, and stakeholders play in the global narrative of evaluation.
Through a concrete, actual publication, our approach emphasizes the importance of acknowledging co-creation in knowledge generation, addresses challenges related to technology and language accessibility, and calls for a collective commitment to action towards a decolonized future in research and evaluation.
Through this paper, we invite the evaluation community at the American Evaluation Association to join us in rethinking how knowledge is generated, shared, and utilized, paving the way for a more equitable and inclusive evaluation practice.
Join us in this engaging session and add your voices and thoughts on the topic.