Lessons Learnt from the SAMEA 9th Biennial Conference 2024: Enhancing Evaluation Practices for Greater Impact

Blog by Debra Mthimkhulu – Emerging Evaluator at SAMEA (2024)

Enhancing Evaluation Practices for Greater Impact

Today, I’d like to share some reflections from the recent SAMEA (South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association) Conference. Attending the event was a rich and inspiring experience, reminding me of our shared challenges—and more importantly—the incredible power of collective learning in evaluation and development.

Here are a three key themes and takeaways that stood out to me. I hope they resonate with fellow evaluators and anyone interested in the field.

1. The Power of Inclusive Evaluation

The conference emphasised the importance of inclusive evaluation. This approach goes beyond merely measuring impact—it empowers those involved in the process. Directly engaging communities in evaluations fosters accountability and respect, amplifies local voices, and strengthens ethical standards.

Lesson learnt: Inclusivity is essential for meaningful evaluations. By genuinely incorporating the perspectives of those most affected, evaluations can better capture real experiences and outcomes, making them more relevant, fair, and impactful.

2. Innovation in Data Collection

Another prominent theme was innovation in data collection. Evaluators often face time and resource constraints, but new tools—such as mobile surveys, remote sensing, and AI-powered analytics—are transforming how we gather data, especially in remote or under-resourced areas.

Lesson learnt: Embracing technological advancements enhances both accuracy and efficiency. These tools are paving the way for more responsive and effective evaluations that meet today’s evolving needs.

3. Bridging the Gap Between Data and Decision-Making

One recurring challenge in evaluation is ensuring that data informs real-world decisions. Several speakers highlighted the importance of data visualisation and clear communication to make findings accessible and actionable.

Lesson learnt: The way we present data is critical to its impact. Using engaging visuals and straightforward language can help policymakers, funders, and communities understand and act on evaluation findings. As a young evaluator, this inspired me to focus on improving how I present my own findings—making them clearer, more visual, and ultimately more impactful.

Challenges in Crafting this Blog

Synthesising insights from the conference came with its own set of challenges. With such a wide range of sessions and topics, it was initially overwhelming to condense everything into a few practical takeaways. But this mirrors a key skill in evaluation: identifying what’s most relevant and useful.

My goal moving forward is to incorporate these themes into my own work, strengthening my approach and contributing meaningfully to the field.

Looking Ahead

I’m excited to put these insights into practice and share them with others in the field. I hope this reflection not only captures my learning journey at the SAMEA Conference, but also provides useful takeaways for fellow emerging evaluators.

Thank you for reading—and here’s to continuous learning and improvement in the world of evaluation!