Ethics, Standards, and Human Judgement in Evaluation: Have We Arrived at the Age of AI?
Roundtable | Online
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Organizado por:
I’M Every Woman (Durga India)
Sobre o evento
As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in research, monitoring, and evaluation, evaluators and development practitioners are confronted with new ethical questions. While AI promises efficiency, scale, and new analytical possibilities, it also raises concerns around bias, accountability, data governance, and the erosion of human judgement.
This roundtable brings together voices across the ecosystem—NGOs, researchers, technology partners, youth representatives, and donor agencies—to reflect on a central question:
Has AI enhanced ethical evaluation practice, or has it complicated it?
Objectives of the Roundtable
1. Interrogate the role of AI in evaluation practice and its implications for ethical standards.
2. Examine the continued importance of human judgement in interpreting data, context, and lived experiences.
3. Explore power dynamics and accountability when algorithms are introduced into decision-making.
4. Identify practical guardrails for responsible use of AI in evaluation.
This roundtable brings together voices across the ecosystem—NGOs, researchers, technology partners, youth representatives, and donor agencies—to reflect on a central question:
Has AI enhanced ethical evaluation practice, or has it complicated it?
Objectives of the Roundtable
1. Interrogate the role of AI in evaluation practice and its implications for ethical standards.
2. Examine the continued importance of human judgement in interpreting data, context, and lived experiences.
3. Explore power dynamics and accountability when algorithms are introduced into decision-making.
4. Identify practical guardrails for responsible use of AI in evaluation.
Orador/a
| Nome | Título | Biography |
|---|---|---|
| Devyani Srivastava | Senior Manager — Research, NLSIU | Devyani Srivastava is Senior Manager – Research at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU). A researcher on policing, human rights, and access to justice, she has 17+ years of experience in policy research and advocacy on police accountability, legal reform, and rights of vulnerable communities. |
| Arjun | Co-Founder, Samanvay Research and Foundation | Arjun Khandelwal is a Co-Founder at Samanvay Research and Foundation with over 18 years of experience in software development and consulting. He specializes in building technology for rural development and NGOs, spending the last 8 years applying his expertise in domains like agriculture, health, and education to foster a more equitable society. |
| Dr. Sharon Marie Barnhardt | Director (Research), Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University | Dr Sharon Barnhardt is the Director – Research at the Centre for Social and Behaviour Change at Ashoka University. She is an applied development economist and behavioural scientist who uses experiments to study policy-relevant topics in India. Her behavioural research focuses on sanitation and malnutrition. Sharon is also active in Executive Education for the policy sector, having taught Behavioural Economics at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration and program evaluation with J-PAL South Asia and CLEAR. She is a Faculty Affiliate at the Jameel Abdul Latif Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA, Bonn). Her experience includes positions at the Centre for Experimental Social Sciences (Nuffield College’s lab in India), the Indian Institute of Management – Ahmedabad, IFMR Business School (at Krea University), the World Bank, and J.P. Morgan. Sharon’s academic record comprises a PhD from Harvard University, an M.P.A. from Princeton University, and a Bachelor’s from NYU. |
Moderators
| Nome | Título | Biography |
|---|---|---|
| Rajalakshmi R | Learnings and Outcomes Lead, Durga | Rajalakshmi has nearly two decades of experience spanning the NGO sector and investment banking, specializing in executing large-scale projects, stakeholder engagement, and strategic program development. With a deep commitment to advancing organizational priorities, she has worked extensively in data analysis and reporting to support leadership decision-making. In investment banking, Rajalakshmi has expertise in derivative settlements, global market funding, fixed income reconciliation, and balance sheet substantiation. Passionate about creating meaningful impact, she thrives on challenges and opportunities to drive change. Beyond work, she enjoys reading and listening to old songs. |
| Monika Rajashekar | Operations Lead, Durga India | Monika Rajashekar is a gender equity advocate and systems thinker, currently serving as Operations Lead at Durga – I’m Every Woman, a national movement advancing safer and more inclusive spaces for women and girls. With experience across social impact and technology ecosystems, she works at the intersection of community engagement, digital platforms, and youth-led change. |