The evaluation eco-system

There are many different types of organisations, individuals, and systems involved in the practice and use of evaluation. Understanding how these different actors interact can help you explore opportunities in the field and plan your career path.

The term ‘evaluation ecosystem’ refers to the interconnected networks of organisations, institutions, and individuals involved in practising and using evaluation. This ecosystem operates at various levels—local, national, regional, and global—each with its own actors and networks. The main components of the evaluation ecosystem are:

• Supply-side: Organisations conducting evaluations, such as evaluation firms, non-profit organisations (NGOs), universities, and independent evaluators
• Demand side: Evaluation commissioners and users of evaluation, such as government agencies, development agencies, civil society, and the private sector
• Evaluation capacity development: Organisations that establish standards, provide training, and promote collaboration such as professional associations, advocacy groups, and academic institutions

To explain how this works in practice, we can use the concept of national evaluation systems to explain how actors in the evaluation ecosystem interact at the national level. A national monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system can be understood as a number of connected systems for generating and using evidence to inform decisions in the public sector. Governments and civil society can demand, assign, and manage evaluations. Often, development agencies conduct evaluations with the assistance of evaluators or academic institutions. These evaluations are then ideally used by governments to make decisions. Civil society then benefits as policies improve thanks to the use of evidence.

For an overview of some of the different types of actors and organisations within the evaluation ecosystem, visit our page on Key actors in national M&E systems.

Key actors in the evaluation ecosystem

The evaluation ecosystem is a great starting point to learn about the type of organisations where you may find people with a career in evaluation. Some of these include:

• Consulting firms: These are professional service firms that provide expert advice in a particular area such as management, strategy, technology, and evaluation. Consultants work on diverse projects across different sectors, offering their expertise to help organisations solve problems, improve performance, and achieve their goals.

• Higher education: Includes institutions of higher education and research. Evaluators in universities often engage in academic research, contribute to scholarly articles, may teach evaluation methodologies, or support institutional research.

• Development organisations: These organisations work on projects aimed at improving economic and social conditions in developing countries. Evaluators in these organisations assess the effectiveness of development programs and initiatives, providing insights that can guide future efforts.

• Non-profit organisations: Non-profit organizations operate to fulfill a mission rather than to generate profit. They work in various fields like education, health, environment, and social services. Evaluators in non-profits assess the impact of the organisation’s programs and services, helping to ensure they are meeting their mission and serving their community effectively.

• Public sector organisations: These are government-run organizations. Evaluators in the public sector may work on a wide range of issues, from education and healthcare to transportation and housing. They assess the effectiveness of public programs and policies, providing valuable information that can inform decision-making and improve public services.

Using the evaluation ecosystem to inform your next career steps

Some examples of how you can use the evaluation ecosystem to actively plan for your next career steps include:

1. Awareness of job opportunities: Each of the components of the evaluation ecosystem have job opportunities for people with a career in evaluation. Exploring the different options available will allow you to build a career that aligns with your interests.

2. Understanding of specific job requirements: Different organizations may have specific prerequisites for evaluation positions. For instance, some governments emphasize familiarity with their evaluation standards. If you want to work for a particular organization, knowing about these requirements will allow you to start working on building these qualifications.

3. Identifying training and skills development opportunities: Becoming familiar with the evaluation capacity development actors can help you find training, education programs, and other professional development opportunities to grow your skills.

4. Adapting to changes: As you grow in your evaluation career, understanding how the evaluation ecosystem determines how, by whom, and with what consequences evaluations are designed and conducted (Gates et al., 2022) will help you adapt to changes in the ecosystem and identify advocacy opportunities. This understanding will also help you in any position that requires collaboration with actors across the evaluation ecosystem.