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Tuesday, 21 April 2026
8:00 am - 9:15 am ET
Will the future of evaluation be shaped by its creativity and innovation in facing emergent challenges?
In observance of the World Creativity and Innovation Day on 21 April 2026, the ninth Future of Evaluation dialogue explores how innovative approaches in evaluation are reshaping the field to better respond to complexity, uncertainty, and rapid change. It examines the growing use of developmental and adaptive evaluation, along with complexity-aware methods, as essential tools for supporting learning and decision-making in dynamic systems.
The dialogue also highlights the emerging intersection of evaluation with foresight and scenario planning, enabling evaluators and decision-makers to anticipate future risks, opportunities, and transformative pathways. It further considers the role of technological innovation, including digital tools, data science, and AI and underscores the value of creative partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration in pushing the boundaries of evaluation practice which is critical for addressing today’s complex social and development challenges.
Moderator
Candice Morkel, PhD is the Academic Head of Program at the IPDET at Lifelong Learning Centre at the University of Bern, Switzerland. She has more than 25 years’ experience in government, academia and the non-profit sector, and has served on the boards of the African Evaluation Association, South African M&E Association and the International Evaluation Academy.
Panelists
Uyen Kim Huynh, PhD, is an Innovation Specialist in UNICEF’s Office of Evaluation with 12+ years’ experience designing impact evaluations of complex programmes in low-income settings. She applies data science and AI to strengthen methodological rigor. Previously at Columbia University, her research focus was multidimensional poverty measurement.
Jordi del Bas is a specialist in evaluation, strategy, and organisational development, working as a consultant, university professor, and researcher. With 25+ years of experience, he has supported United Nations agencies, the European Commission, and private sector clients worldwide. His recent work focuses on linking evaluation, learning, and adaptation in complex contexts through developmental evaluation, systems thinking, agile monitoring, and adaptive evaluation.
Jennifer Bisgard is a researcher, evaluator, and director with 30+ years' experience leading evaluations across sub-Saharan Africa. Co-founder of Khulisa Management Services, she is now an Independent Advisor. A Johns Hopkins MA graduate, she has held numerous VOPE leadership roles including founding Chair of SAMEA, AfrEA and IOCE board and EvalPartners Management board.
Uugantsetseg Gonchigdorj is an independent evaluator and consultant with a background in sociology. She specializes in programme evaluation at the intersection of policy, systems, and institutional learning across diverse development sectors. She has contributed to evaluation networks including EvalYouth Asia, EvalYouth Mongolia, and the Mongolian Evaluation Association (2023–2025).
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