1. Broadening the Discussion About Evaluator Advocacy
Mike Hendricks, Ph.D.
Independent Evaluation Consultant
27th Annual Conference of the American Evaluation Association
Washington, DC USA
October 16, 2013

2. My Time Is Short, So…. Let me pose this question:
What types of advocacy might evaluators do, and might this occur at different levels?
-- Philosophically? (6)
-- Operationally? (3)
-- Study-specifically? (6)

3. Philosophically, advocate that ….
Governments ought to be transparent to their citizenry?
Government programs ought to be effective and efficient?
Evaluation is a useful tool to help make this happen? (c2e)
Government agencies should have evaluation units?
These units should have independence from possible interference?
Evaluators recognize their limited role within government decision-making?

4. Operationally, advocate that ….
Evaluations should focus on the most important programs and issues?
Evaluators should use the most appropriate methods to answer the key questions?
Evaluators should be given the necessary resources (time, staff, $, data access)?

5. Study-specifically, advocate that ….
Decision makers seriously attend to findings, recommendations?
Key recommendations are accepted and implemented?
A documented decision is made about each recommendation?
Agreed-upon follow-up actions are actually implemented?
Key findings are not distorted when presented elsewhere?
A particular program or policy should be expanded or reduced?

6. But study-specific advocacy is tricky
Each evaluation situation is unique and might require unique advocacy efforts
Different advocacy audience members might most effectively be reached differently
Does our formal training teach us this sort of advocacy?
We rarely have financial or contractual support after our studies end
5. Can you think of more?

7. What Might We Do To Prepare?
Differs for each of these 15 ways of advocating, but….
Support AEA’s Evaluation Policy Task Force (EPTF)
Urge AEA to do even more on the “demand” side of evaluation
Know and use AEA’s Guiding Principles in our practice
Decide for ourselves what “evaluation use” means to us
Examine our conscience and our professional ethics
Be willing to speak up -- diplomatically
Protect our ability to continue the good fight
Can you think of more?

8. Let’s Keep Wrestling With This Important Issue