In collaboration with the Colombia Department of National Planning (DNP), the German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval) and the Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI), three Footprint Evaluation workshops were conducted in Bogotá during the week of 19-23.08.2024.
These workshops were provided in Spanish and aimed to build local capacity for sustainability-inclusive evaluation. This experience highlighted several key lessons in building both government and service provider capacities in Colombia and more broadly for sustainability-inclusive evaluations. The workshops were facilitated by Andy Rowe and Thomaz Chianca from the Footprint Evaluation Initiative, with Anna Warnholz from DEval/GEI.
Dual capacity building is essential
One of the most significant takeaways was the value of addressing the capacity needs of both commissioners (DNP and Ministries) and service providers (such as evaluators from consulting firms and academics). Public sector institutions gained the skills to commission evaluations that integrate environmental sustainability, while service providers learned how to address such evaluations. Engaging both sides separately ensured that each had the opportunity to freely raise and discuss concerns with such a new undertaking. This pioneering approach enabled a shared understanding and practical strategies for sustainability-inclusive evaluation, making it more actionable and integrated into everyday policies and programmes.
Sustainability is manageable in daily processes
A common perception among participants prior to the workshops was that incorporating sustainability into evaluations might be a distant and resource-intensive goal. However, feedback indicated that sustainability-inclusive evaluations are not only feasible but can be embedded into regular processes without overwhelming complexity. One participant remarked: "Sustainability is not a distant, complex and costly issue in the evaluation of public policies; it is possible to carry out processes from this perspective in our daily evaluation processes." This recognition reshaped participants' perspectives on how manageable sustainability can be in routine evaluation tasks.
Integration of sustainability into public policy is crucial
Participants consistently expressed that integrating sustainability considerations into public policy is crucial for long-term success. A key lesson was the importance of considering the environmental footprint of strategies and initiatives in the development stage. This underscores the need for a shift in both policy-making and evaluation to align more closely with sustainability goals. As one participant noted: "Understanding and managing the ecological footprint is essential to develop strategies that ensure long-term sustainable development, benefiting both the ecosystem and society at large."
Implementing sustainability-inclusive evaluation
The third workshop focused on the challenges of conducting Colombia's first sustainability-inclusive evaluation, which focuses on government IT systems. Participants included DNP representatives and members of the consulting consortium leading the evaluation. The GEI and DEval are contributing to Footprint Evaluation’s provision of support to DNP and the evaluation team in conducting this pioneering, country-led effort.
Continued engagement and knowledge sharing
Future workshops and knowledge sharing events will further explore the "how" of conducting Sustainability-Inclusive Evaluations. In September, Andy and Anna will lead a workshop at DEval on the practical aspects of conducting sustainability-inclusive evaluations. Additionally, in October, the Footprint Initiative and DNP will be participating in the National Evaluation Capacities conference in Beijing.