State of the Field Panel on the Evaluation and Assessment of Transformation: A Case Study of Response to the Polycrisis

Authors

  • Glenn G. Page CEO of SustainaMetrix and Global Lead of COBALT - Maine, US. Corresponding Author: gpage@sustainametrix.com
  • Sam Buckton PhD researcher, Department of Environment and Geography, University of York - UK
  • Mark Cabaj President, Here to There Consulting Inc. - Canada
  • Ian Goldman President, International Evaluation Association - UK
  • Kate McKegg Director, The Knowledge Institute Limited - New Zealand
  • Mutizwa Mukute Director, Social Learning and Innovation Ltd - Zimbabwe
  • Michael Quinn Patton Founder and Director, Utilization-Focused Evaluation - US
  • Hailey Rizzo COBALT Fellow, Student, University of Maine, School of Law - US

Keywords:

Developmental Evaluation, Blue Marble Evaluation, Transformation, Cross-scale, Complexity

Abstract

As part of the Transformations Conference 2023, an expert panel was assembled to provide a “State of the Practice” regarding the field of evaluation and assessment as applied to the type and scale of transformations needed in response to the polycrisis. Panelists address the questions surrounding how attention to the concept of transformation affects their work, using transformative change as a new kind of evaluation, the ways in which evaluation and transformation go hand-in-hand, and their advice for those paying attention to the cross-scale and nonlinear nature of transformation. Responses to these topics shape a new direction for the evaluation field to support a wide range of competencies required to evaluate and actively enable expressions of more just, equitable, and regenerative forms of transformation. This work requires new types of case studies, more diverse and interdisciplinary communities of practice, and stronger partnerships with those actively working on large-scale system transformation.

Author Biographies

Glenn G. Page, CEO of SustainaMetrix and Global Lead of COBALT - Maine, US. Corresponding Author: gpage@sustainametrix.com

For over 30 years, Glenn has been working on creating pathways to transformation of our coastal communities across the globe, working at the interface of science, policy and practice. As restoration ecologist, he integrates regenerative design, local knowledge and community engagement to restore natural systems (i.e. dunes, rivers, wetlands and forests), focusing on ecosystem function, equivalency and valuation. Currently, he is the President/CEO of SustainaMetrix and global lead of COBALT, focusing on “Navigating in the Anthropocene” as Glenn leads a team of interdisciplinary experts who brings innovation, evaluation and systems thinking to complex, messy, cross-scale, wicked challenges of our time.

Corresponding Author: gpage@sustainametrix.com

Sam Buckton, PhD researcher, Department of Environment and Geography, University of York - UK

Sam Buckton is a PhD researcher in Human Geography and Environment with the FixOurFood programme at the University of York. His thesis focuses on how evaluation can support food system transformations towards regenerative futures. He is additionally a Research Associate with Global Assessment for a New Economics (GANE) and a Youth Advisory Board member for the University of Hull’s Energy and Environment Institute project exploring youth-led adaptation to climate change in Vietnam. Outside of academia he has worked with numerous British nature conservation NGOs, including the RSPB and several Wildlife Trusts, and with the University of Cambridge to produce its Biodiversity Action Plan.

Mark Cabaj, President, Here to There Consulting Inc. - Canada

Mark has worked as policy maker, funder, and activist in areas ranging from poverty reduction, energy transition, and health care. He helped establish the Tamarack Institute (a national intermediary in Canada promoting place-based responses to complex challenges), was the Executive Director of one of North America’s earliest collective impact networks, and contributed to developing the thinking and practice of Developmental Evaluation. He is the President of Here to There Consulting Inc. which provides strategy and evaluation support to multi-stakeholder, innovation and system change oriented initiatives in Canada and beyond.

Ian Goldman, President, International Evaluation Association - UK

Ian started working in rural development, and has moved through decentralisation, community driven development, action learning to evidence based policy making. A key thread has been empowering approaches to planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning. He worked in South Africa’s Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation from 2010-2018 where he established and ran the South African national evaluation system. He is currently President of the International Evaluation Academy, and an Advisor on Evaluation/M&E and Evidence Systems with the South African Presidency on the JET-IP climate funds, with the Global Evaluation Initiative/CLEAR Anglophone Africa and with Operation Vulindlela, a public sector troubleshooting initiative in South Africa. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town. He was on the 3ie Board from 2012-2022 and is on the Board of the International Evaluation Academy, South African M&E Association, and South African Parliamentary Institute.

Kate McKegg, Director, The Knowledge Institute Limited - New Zealand

Adept at spanning boundaries, Kate has combined consultancy, board directorships, teaching and parenting (and more recently grandparenting) over 30+ years. In this time, she has supported dozens of individuals, organisations and communities to make practical use of evaluation to further their goals and aspirations and raised three children. Kate is also the Chair of the board of Xtreme Zero Waste Ltd, an organisation committed to the principles of local circular economies, affording all precious resources their true value. For more than 25 years, the organisation has been supporting locally-led action towards the vision of a world without waste. Kate has a deep commitment to social and environmental justice and equity. This brings her into contact with people innovating to create systems change amidst complexity. She also actively supports indigenous colleagues in their pursuit of justice, equity, healing and revitalisation efforts at their request.

Mutizwa Mukute, Director, Social Learning and Innovation Ltd - Zimbabwe

Mutizwa is committed to supporting transitions and transformations towards just, sustainable, low-carbon societies. He started working in the field of environment at the beginning of his career in 1988. Mutizwa was awarded: (i) a Certificate of Outstanding Leadership by the Board of Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Association in 2005 (former employer), and (ii) a Certificate of Outstanding Contribution by the Eastern and Southern African Small-Scale Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF) in 2014. He is an international environmental education specialist, transformative learning researcher, transformative change evaluator, and organizational development facilitator. He has conducted over 40 evaluations for philanthropies and funders, research and academic organizations, NGOs, farmer organizations, and intergovernmental bodies during the last 18 years, and published nearly 20 peer-reviewed articles since 2009. He works on nexus issues that cut across agriculture and food systems, climate change, biodiversity conservation, natural resources management, regranting, and education.

Michael Quinn Patton, Founder and Director, Utilization-Focused Evaluation - US

Founder and director of Utilization-Focused Evaluation, former president of the American Evaluation Association, and author of eight major evaluation books including Blue Marble Evaluation that addresses global systems transformation.

Hailey Rizzo, COBALT Fellow, Student, University of Maine, School of Law - US

Hailey was born and raised in California, where she attended California State University, Monterey Bay, and received a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. Hailey grew up beachcombing and swimming in the frigid waters of Northern California and has always had a deep love and appreciation for the ocean. After working for the Monterey Bay Aquarium post-grad, Hailey moved to Portland, Maine, to attend the University of Maine, School of Law. Expecting to graduate May 2025, she is pursuing a certificate in Environmental and Oceans Law. 

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Published

2023-12-19

How to Cite

Page, G. G., Buckton, S., Cabaj, M., Goldman, I., McKegg, K., Mukute, M., … Rizzo, H. (2023). State of the Field Panel on the Evaluation and Assessment of Transformation: A Case Study of Response to the Polycrisis. Social Innovations Journal, 22. Retrieved from https://socialinnovationsjournal.com/index.php/sij/article/view/6959

Issue

Vol. 22 (2023): Transformative Partnerships: Proceedings of Transformations Conference '23

Section

Sensemaking and States of the Field

Categories

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Copyright (c) 2023 Glenn G. Page, Sam Buckton, Mark Cabaj, Ian Goldman, Kate McKegg, Mutizwa Mukute, Michael Quinn Patton, Hailey Rizzo (Author)

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