6 takeaways: Are we educating evaluators of every generation, for the future?

In observance of the International Day of Education, the sixth Future of Evaluation dialogue was convened on 22 January 2026, to examine the evaluation workforce's preparedness for the future.

The discussion called for a fundamental shift in the education of evaluators - moving away from the teaching of technical skills alone to fostering evaluators with wise, ethical, and courageous judgment, measuring evaluation utilization through social impact and local relevance, adopting responsible AI, fostering intergenerational co-creation, decolonizing curricula and protecting evaluation as a vital pillar of democracy - to ensure evaluation remains relevant for both public accountability and navigating a complex world. 

Seven quick takeaways from the dialogue

1. Prioritize "evaluative literacy" and moral judgment over technical mastery. Evaluation education should move beyond a focus on the technical mechanics of methods and statistics. A modern evaluation curriculum prioritizes a "big picture" approach: teaching evaluators to view their work as a transformative tool rather than just a technical job. Instead of simply learning how to use specific tools or software, evaluators should be trained to ask deeper questions: Why is this being measured? When is the right time to do an evaluation? And who will be most affected by the results? This mindset allows them to look past surface-level facts and combine hard evidence with human values to make fairer, more meaningful judgments.

2.  Measuring evaluation utilization through social relevance. Evaluation education should focus on understanding stakeholder perspectives and reflecting local realities. This is a prerequisite for relevant evaluations. Evaluation risks losing its intended impact if the findings do not connect with the community's needs or if the reports do not lead to meaningful action. To maintain professional and social relevance, training must prioritize empathy and the "sociology of evaluation”. This ensures that findings are accessible to local actors and serve the common good, moving beyond a "tick-box" exercise to become a bridge between evidence and real-world change.

3. Transition from "AI tool-selling" to "responsible AI". With the explosion of generative AI, the focus of evaluator education must shift from learning specific software to understanding "responsible AI." This involves a "human in the loop" approach, where evaluators are trained to recognize the difference between appropriate and inappropriate AI use. Emerging competencies for the next generation include identifying algorithmic bias, ensuring data privacy for marginalized groups, and maintaining critical thinking to oversee the ethical implications of digital tools.

4. Institutionalize intergenerational "co-creation" spaces. Traditional top-down mentoring is evolving into intergenerational co-creation. These learning spaces bridge the gap between senior professionals, who provide methodological guardrails and wisdom, help young evaluators navigate the job market; and youth, who bring digital native energy, a fresh perspective and help evaluation stay adaptive and reflective of current social realities. This synergy ensures the profession stays resilient. 

5. Decolonize curricula through diverse knowledge systems. Rethinking how evaluators are educated requires integrating indigenous, community-based, and experiential knowledge.  Current evaluation frameworks are often based on  Global North perspectives. Decolonizing evaluation education means acknowledging "epistemic diversity", recognizing that different cultures have different ways of understanding reality and hope. By incorporating relationality and local knowledge, evaluation education becomes more inclusive and globally relevant.

6. Protect the connection between democracy and evaluation. Evaluation does not exist in a vacuum; it is an essential pillar of democracy. Evaluation education should prepare the workforce to operate within "evaluation marketplaces" while simultaneously defending evaluation’s role in public accountability. Especially as international laws and democratic norms weaken globally, evaluators must be trained to navigate political sensitivities and promote evidence-based policymaking as a tool for strengthening democratic values.

   
   

The Eval4Action Future of Evaluation dialogues are a series of forward-looking discussions that explore innovative and adaptive approaches to evaluation. Designed to make evaluation more influential in a rapidly changing and complex world, these dialogues bring together a diverse range of voices—from experts to young evaluators—to share knowledge and highlight ways to future-proof the field of evaluation. Each monthly dialogue is aligned with an international action day, ensuring the conversations are timely and relevant to a global discourse. 

The next dialogue, “Is evaluation fulfilling its potential to advance global social justice?” will take place on 19 February 2026. Register

This article was written with AI support with human authors in the lead.