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Living Systems

Living systems are characterized by emergence, adaptation, interdependence and self-organisation. They are also the foundation of regenerative thinking. Posts here explore what living systems offer evaluation and transformation, from complexity science to understanding how change actually unfolds.
30
Apr
Learning from China’s Transformation, Part 6. Co-evolution - a ‘first principle’.

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
5 min read
26
Apr
Learning from China's Transformation, Part 5. Directed improvisation

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.
8 min read
12
Apr
Guest post: The Efficiency criterion

Guest post: The Efficiency criterion

The OECD/DAC criteria have been under review and debate since 2018. As Zenda Ofir explained in her widely discussed
5 min read
03
Jan
Towards Transformation, 3. A grand narrative for evaluation in this era

Towards Transformation, 3. A grand narrative for evaluation in this era

In its very essence, the concept of evaluation is beautiful, I argued long ago in one of my first blog
5 min read
20
Dec
Guest post: Integrated framework for the evaluation of Agenda 2030 in LAC

Guest post: Integrated framework for the evaluation of Agenda 2030 in LAC

Sustainable development consists of satisfying the needs of the present generation without compromising the capacity of future generations to meet
2 min read
28
Nov
Apollo Nkwake's Top YEE Tips: Assumptions-aware evaluation

Apollo Nkwake's Top YEE Tips: Assumptions-aware evaluation

Assumptions are what we believe to be true. They may be explicit or implicit. Unexamined or tacit assumptions can be
2 min read
28
Jul
Economists, Aid and RCTs

Economists, Aid and RCTs

"Aid projects might yield satisfying micro-results, but they generally do little to change the systems that produce the problems
5 min read
10
Jul
Towards Transformation, 1. The buzzword

Towards Transformation, 1. The buzzword

Can evaluation help enable and support transformative development? We know we need the latter. Yet like sustainability, transformation (or transformative
5 min read
14
Nov
The DAC criteria, Part 11. From criteria to design principles

The DAC criteria, Part 11. From criteria to design principles

Evaluation criteria used in development contexts do not only show what evaluation commissioners, evaluators and other stakeholders value. They also
6 min read
07
Nov
The DAC criteria, Part 10. Sleepwalking towards irrelevance

The DAC criteria, Part 10. Sleepwalking towards irrelevance

We are sleepwalking towards irrelevance. Not because we do not do some worthwhile things. We do. But because those with
7 min read