Prof. Jane Mariara Shares Insights at the 2024 Global Impact Evaluation Forum

Prof. Jane Mariara, Executive Director of the Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP), spoke on a panel at the Global Impact Evaluation Forum (GIE Forum) 2024, hosted by UNICEF and World Food Programme (WFP) at the United Nations in New York from December 2-5. The event titled, "Experimenting, Learning, and Scaling Up What Works in a Fragile World," aimed to foster global partnerships and advance the use of impact evaluations to tackle urgent global challenges.

In a "Capacity development for practitioners in impact evaluation" session, Prof. Mariara shared PEP’s expertise on building capacity for rigorous research and its transformative impact on practitioners and policymakers. She emphasized embedding gender dimensions in capacity-strengthening initiatives and fostering evidence-based policymaking.

Prof. Mariara highlighted two pivotal points during her presentation:

1. Strengthening Local Research Capacity: Empowering local researchers through targeted capacity-building initiatives leads to impactful, sustainable policy interventions.
2. Balancing Rigor with Contextual Relevance: Aligning methodological rigor with ethical considerations and local realities can drive better program outcomes.

She also addressed capacity-building challenges, such as limited resources and the need for inclusive approaches, urging stronger partnerships among researchers, policymakers, and institutions. 

"Strengthening capacity and fostering partnerships between researchers and policymakers are vital to bridge the gap between evidence and action. By empowering local practitioners, we can ensure that solutions are context-specific and sustainable," she remarked.

Prof. Mariara also highlighted the importance of collaborative initiatives, such as those led by organizations like the Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa (NIERA), which emphasizes demand-driven research and practitioner engagement. These efforts demonstrate how local expertise and co-created solutions can enrich impact evaluations and foster sustainable development outcomes.

The session attracted a diverse audience, including government representatives, UN officials, donors, and civil society members. It provided a platform for Prof. Mariara to showcase PEP’s contributions to bridging the gap between rigorous evidence generation and policy adoption, further advancing global efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goals.

The 2024 GIE Forum underscored the growing importance of robust evidence in informing decisions on program scaling and resource allocation. Prof. Mariara’s contributions reinforced PEP’s leadership in this critical space, showcasing its commitment to promoting sustainable, inclusive development through evidence-based policymaking.

The session concluded with a call to action for development agencies, academic institutions, and practitioners to collaborate more effectively and avoid duplication. Capacity development for practitioners in impact evaluation is not just about knowledge—it is about translating knowledge into action through better programs that transform lives.

You can learn more about the event here, and other speakers who participated in these sessions.