270 - From the Other Side – Including the Voice of Evaluation Commissioners in Research on Evaluation

Abstract Information: Much of Research on Evaluation (RoE) is conducted from the perspective of evaluators to the omission of that of evaluation commissioners. As the individuals and institutions who purchase evaluation services, amplifying the perspectives of evaluation commissioners is important not only for ensuring quality evaluation but for effecting change in a world with increasing calls to transform and decolonize evaluation. This paper will share preliminary findings from a mixed methods RoE study on the evaluation capacity of evaluation commissioners and their role in enhancing evaluation practice in the international development sector. Current commissioning practices, ways in which commissioners are contributing to the decolonization agenda, and potential implications for strengthening evaluation capacity will be shared.