Big picture

Big picture

03
Oct
We Have to Rethink Human Rights, Part 1

We Have to Rethink Human Rights, Part 1

<p><img src="https://www.zendaofir.com/content/images/2025/11/gayatri-malhotra-ujefazohgig-unsplash900x600v2-300x156-1.jpg" alt width=
5 min read
15
Jul
Guest Post: Principles for Transforming Economics

Guest Post: Principles for Transforming Economics

<p><img src="https://www.zendaofir.com/content/images/2025/11/10-principles-economics900x500-300x169.jpg" alt width=
4 min read
29
May
Evaluation’s Journey towards the Future, Part 6. Evaluating yesterday's world for tomorrow’s challenges?

Evaluation’s Journey towards the Future, Part 6. Evaluating yesterday's world for tomorrow’s challenges?

<p>&nbsp;</p> * Why are we still evaluating yesterday's world to plan for
15 min read
27
May
Snippets and Titbits 1. The Zoo of Future Risks

Snippets and Titbits 1. The Zoo of Future Risks

<p>&nbsp;</p> My first 'Snippet and Titbit'-the first random reading or
3 min read
25
May
Evaluation's Journey towards the Future, Part 5. The Liminal space of Not-Yet Futures

Evaluation's Journey towards the Future, Part 5. The Liminal space of Not-Yet Futures

<p><img src="https://www.zendaofir.com/content/images/2025/11/patrick-mueller-rmwhhlrtwow-unsplash-900x500-2-300x131.jpg" alt width=
3 min read
06
May
Evaluation’s Journey towards the Future, Part 2. How did we get here?

Evaluation’s Journey towards the Future, Part 2. How did we get here?

<p><img src="https://www.zendaofir.com/content/images/2025/11/jeremy-bishop-asao6acgrqu-unsplash-900x500-1-300x163.jpg" alt width=
7 min read
03
Apr
“What went wrong with woke?” The problem of measurement and influence.

“What went wrong with woke?” The problem of measurement and influence.

How twisted narratives and simplistic measures can destroy a major effort to do good. What does this mean for evaluation
4 min read
19
Mar
Eight Reasons for Hope and Optimism. And why we need to seize this moment.

Eight Reasons for Hope and Optimism. And why we need to seize this moment.

<blockquote><p>Despite Trump's bulldozing of the world, and the vulnerabilities, uncertainties and trauma
12 min read
19
Mar
Seven Reasons for Outrage. And why anger is not the answer.

Seven Reasons for Outrage. And why anger is not the answer.

In our hyperconnected world it is hard to escape bad news. It is easy to get distressed or angry, yet
14 min read
01
Sep
The Power(lessness) of Evaluation: The case of Afghanistan

The Power(lessness) of Evaluation: The case of Afghanistan

Thanks to more than 60 evaluation reports over 13 years by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), we
8 min read