Zenda Ofir

Switzerland

South African scientist, evaluator and transformation specialist. Working locally to globally on evaluation, transformation & foresight from a Global South lens. Challenging orthodoxy, bridging divides. PhD in ecological chemistry. Based in Geneva.

Apr

COVID-19, Part 4. Accelerating

Do you agree with the following five observations? If so, the time is right for evaluation professionals to align. By

20 Apr 2020

8 min read

Apr

COVID-19, Part 3. Adapting

"We won't get back to normal because normal was the problem." - Graffiti in Santiago, Chile It

13 Apr 2020

3 min read

Apr

COVID-19, Part 2. Repositioning

In my view elevator speeches that present evaluation as something done for "learning", "improving", "generating

09 Apr 2020

3 min read

Apr

COVID-19, Part 1. Earth has gone quiet

We are at a transformative moment in the history of humankind and of our planet. During this extraordinary time and

06 Apr 2020

5 min read

Nov

Ten tips for shifting to systems-informed evaluation

As one of three facilitators at a recent 3-day workshop organised in Connecticut by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) on

13 Nov 2019

2 min read

Sep

Competencies for post-normal evaluation, Part 3

One thing is certain: the proficiencies and abilities that will help us deal with the world in an era defined

14 Sep 2019

4 min read

Sep

Competencies for post-normal evaluation, Part 2

Skill 6. Deep Generalists In order to be a good evaluation professional, it is essential to see connections. We have

12 Sep 2019

4 min read

Sep

Competencies for post-normal evaluation, Part 1

"Are modernity's blueprints for evaluation theory and practice exhausted?" Only now and again one finds provocative

03 Sep 2019

6 min read

Apr

Learning from China’s Transformation, Part 6. Co-evolution - a ‘first principle’.

Co-evolution – the mutual shaping of institutions, markets, society and governance over time – emerges as a first principle in understanding China’s transformation. This concluding post draws together the series’ lessons for evaluation and development practice

30 Apr 2019

5 min read

Apr

Learning from China's Transformation, Part 5. Directed improvisation

China’s development story is an extraordinary example of complex adaptive systems thinking applied to political-economic transformation. ‘Directed improvisation’ – combining top-down strategic vision with bottom-up experimentation – holds vital lessons for us.

26 Apr 2019

8 min read