Global Norms and Standards in Evaluation: Cultural Competence, Responsiveness, and Regional Frameworks
Webinar | Online
-
Organized by:
Claremont Graduate University
- In partnership with: Nandini Nair
About the Event
This session presents a comparative review of global evaluation norms and standards, with a specific focus on how culturally responsive principles are defined, embedded, and operationalized across regional evaluation frameworks.
Drawing on established guidelines and standards, the session examines how culturally responsive evaluation norms are articulated across regions, including North America, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and Asia-Pacific. Examples include the American Evaluation Association’s emphasis on equity and fairness, the Canadian Evaluation Society’s incorporation of Indigenous rights and ecological justice, and regional principles developed by organizations such as the African Evaluation Association and the Latin American and Caribbean evaluation network.
The analysis highlights key differences across regions, including variation in terminology, accessibility of documentation, and the extent to which culturally responsive principles are formalized within evaluation standards. It also considers how cultural competence and culturally responsive evaluation are differently understood and applied across contexts. Rather than proposing new frameworks, the session synthesizes existing approaches to examine how culturally responsive norms and standards are interpreted and implemented globally.
The session concludes by reflecting on the implications of these differences for national evaluation systems, particularly in relation to how culturally responsive norms shape what is considered credible, ethical, and valid evaluation practice.
Learning Objectives (Refined for alignment)
By the end of this session, participants should be able to:
1. Describe how culturally responsive evaluation norms and standards are articulated across major global regions
2. Compare how culturally responsive principles are embedded within different evaluation frameworks
3. Identify patterns of convergence and divergence in culturally responsive approaches to evaluation
4. Reflect on implications for national evaluation systems and culturally responsive evaluation practice
Drawing on established guidelines and standards, the session examines how culturally responsive evaluation norms are articulated across regions, including North America, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and Asia-Pacific. Examples include the American Evaluation Association’s emphasis on equity and fairness, the Canadian Evaluation Society’s incorporation of Indigenous rights and ecological justice, and regional principles developed by organizations such as the African Evaluation Association and the Latin American and Caribbean evaluation network.
The analysis highlights key differences across regions, including variation in terminology, accessibility of documentation, and the extent to which culturally responsive principles are formalized within evaluation standards. It also considers how cultural competence and culturally responsive evaluation are differently understood and applied across contexts. Rather than proposing new frameworks, the session synthesizes existing approaches to examine how culturally responsive norms and standards are interpreted and implemented globally.
The session concludes by reflecting on the implications of these differences for national evaluation systems, particularly in relation to how culturally responsive norms shape what is considered credible, ethical, and valid evaluation practice.
Learning Objectives (Refined for alignment)
By the end of this session, participants should be able to:
1. Describe how culturally responsive evaluation norms and standards are articulated across major global regions
2. Compare how culturally responsive principles are embedded within different evaluation frameworks
3. Identify patterns of convergence and divergence in culturally responsive approaches to evaluation
4. Reflect on implications for national evaluation systems and culturally responsive evaluation practice
Speakers
| Name | Title | Biography |
|---|---|---|
| Nandini Nair | Public Policy & Evaluation Professional | Public Policy & Evaluation professional with a Double Master’s from Claremont Graduate University in Public Policy & Evaluation and Applied Gender Studies. Experienced in policy analysis, program evaluation, compliance monitoring, and institutional effectiveness, with a record of developing evidence-based strategies that strengthen organizational accountability. |
| Sonia Baron | PhD Student at Claremont Graduate University | Sonia Baron’s research and evaluation practice focus on mixed-methods, principles-based evaluation that integrates AI, human-centered research, and program evaluation to examine trust, evidence, and outcomes across social sectors. She contributes to multiple evaluation projects housed at the Claremont Evaluation Center. |