The ABCs of Evaluation Capacity Building: Tools, Techniques, and Planning
2026-06-11 09:30 - 13:00 UTC | Online
June 11 2026, 9:30 AM – 1 PM
Register today!

This online workshop introduces a four-pronged approach to building and sustaining evaluation capacity in your professional work

In this interactive workshop, we move beyond “doing” evaluation to focus on evaluation capacity that lasts. Evaluation Capacity Building (ECB) isn’t just about teaching someone how to write a survey; it’s about cultivating the structures, skills, and mindset that sustain inquiry and learning over time. Together, we’ll explore the latest ECB literature and dissect real-world case studies to identify what actually works (and what tends to get in the way). You’ll leave with a custom ECB action plan tailored to your specific organizational or client context, ready to spark engagement and build evaluation skills in others the moment you log off.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of this session, you will be able to:

Assess Readiness: Identify organizational entry points, capacity, and challenges that impact ECB efforts.
Build Meaningful Engagement: Use evidence-informed strategies to motivate individuals and teams who may be indifferent or resistant to evaluation and planning.
Customize Techniques that Work: Adapt ECB models, frameworks, strategies, and tools to fit the unique context and constraints of your specific evaluation situation.
Design an Actionable Plan: Create a practical, step-by-step ECB roadmap aligned with your goals and the realities of your organization or clients.

Credentialled Evaluator Competency Domains:

Reflective Practice

Situational Practice

Interpersonal Practice

About the Facilitator:
Allison Prieur, CE, is a learning-focused evaluator and founder of DARE Impact Consulting, with over 20 years of experience in health and human services as an internal leader, external consultant, and funder. She specializes in building evaluation capacity within non-profit organizations and funding bodies, helping teams move from compliance-driven reporting to strategic learning and evidence-informed decision making.
Allison brings deep technical expertise in evaluation design, mixed-methods research, survey and tool development, data analysis, and the facilitation of evaluative thinking. She has led multi-year evaluation capacity building initiatives, supported organizations through systems change efforts, and coached senior leaders to integrate evaluation into strategic planning and governance. Her approach blends methodological rigour with relational practice, ensuring evaluation is both technically sound and context-responsive.
She is a Credentialed Evaluator (CE) and a PhD student in the Interdisciplinary PhD in Evaluation program at Western Michigan University, where her research examines how organizations use evaluation to advance systems change and which evaluator competencies enable this work. She also holds a Master’s in Public Policy and Bachelor’s degrees in Social Work and Developmental Psychology.
Allison is known for translating complex evaluation concepts into practical tools and approaches that evaluators can apply with clarity and confidence.

The FEM: The Feminist Evaluation Model
2026-07-22 09:30 - 2026-07-23 12:30 | Online
Join us for a two-day workshop on designing more equitable and inclusive program evaluation!

“A person does not need to be a feminist or an expert on feminism to implement the FEM. A person does need to view evaluation as a process that can effectively be used to address gender inequities and bring about social change for women.”
Join us for a two-day workshop on the Feminist Evaluation Model (FEM) with Donna Podems! This workshop will explore how Feminist Evaluation helps support more equitable evaluation practices, discuss the feminist evaluation context, and give hands-on tools to integrate feminist approaches to real-world evaluations.
Please note that the workshops will be held online from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM on July 22 and 23, 2026.
Workshop Structure:

Framing
Clarify objectives, participant expectations, and establish a safe space for dialogue. Activity: quick reflection on evaluation and its role in society (discussion).
Evaluation Landscape
Explain the distinction between evaluation and research, review social justice approaches, and position Feminist Evaluation in the evaluation field today, in that context, and the global agendas. Facilitate discussion on power and language and the role of FE in this context.
Gender → Feminist Continuum
Walk through gender-sensitive, responsive, transformative, and feminist approaches. Use case example and group work. Touch on the language of gender, sex, and sexual identity and a few other more common terms to FE.
The FEM in Practice
Introduce the FEM, a new feminist evaluation model, its four pillars, and its FEM principles. Apply to the stages of an evaluation.
Feminist Evaluation Concepts in Feminist Evaluation and the FEM
Discuss what knowledge construction in FE is. Activity on facts vs. assumptions, and end with a focus on what constitutes a credible evaluation. Introduce the FEM’s evidence framework as an example of a feminist process to construct knowledge.
Feminist Backlash and Handling Pushback on using FE or the FEM
Role-play responses to resistance and practice dialogue questions.
Is FEM Appropriate?
Use the 7 decision questions and apply them to participants’ real contexts.
Closing
Reflection, commitments, and key takeaways.

Credentialled Evaluator Competency Domains:

Reflective Practice

Situational Practice

Interpersonal Practice

About the Facilitator:
Donna Podems is the founder and director of OtherWISE. She brings 20 years of experience working with governments, civil society, nongovernmental groups, international donors, and foundations to conduct monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning and training. She holds a doctorate in interdisciplinary studies focused on Programme Evaluation and Organizational Development, and a Masters degree in Public Administration.
She has lived and/or worked in the United States, Botswana, Burma, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of South Africa, Senegal, Somaliland, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Bosnia, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Belize, Nicaragua, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA, and Vietnam.
She conducts her work across a range of technical areas including agriculture, HIV/AIDS, TB, health systems, youth interventions, education, human rights, environment, orphans and vulnerable children, community needs, and women’s empowerment.
Her research focus is on evaluator competencies, process use, and feminist evaluation. Dr. Podems is a current Board Member for the American Evaluation Association (AEA), past Board Member for the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association (SAMEA), and past Chairperson for the AEA’s International Committee and the Feminist Evaluation TIG. She is a member of AEA, IDEAs, and SAMEA.

August 2026 Essential Skills Series Intensive
2026-08-24 08:00 - 2026-08-27 16:00 | Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre, 30 Carlton Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2E9, Canada
This 4-day course was developed by the Canadian Evaluation Society to provide participants with a basic understanding of the main models and practices associated with the profession of evaluation. Prior knowledge of evaluation and of social science research methods is not required. There are no examinations associated with the course, nor is there any homework. Participation in all 15 course modules entitles you to a Certificate of Completion from the Canadian Evaluation Society.
Participants will gain:

Basic knowledge and skills,
Appreciation for essential elements of evaluation,
Capacity to apply acquired knowledge and skills, and
Development as an evaluation professional.

The Essential Skills Series is ten self-paced learning modules that cover everything from basics like the objectives of evaluations, all the way through to practical skills such as budgeting and workplan development. The discussion forum encourages knowledge transfer/sharing among participants and instructor, instructor reviewed assignments to guide learners and real-time Zoom learning at the start and conclusion of the course.
Course Competencies
Participants will be able to describe in basic terms:

the uses and benefits of evaluation
common settings in which evaluation takes place
where evaluations and performance monitoring fit in the program cycle
underlying theories related to evaluation, and their implications
the historical and technical context in which evaluation takes place
the range of terminology used in evaluation
causes of, and responses to, resistance
potential misuses of evaluation
cultural considerations in conducting evaluations
ethical considerations with respect to evaluation
evaluation standards
evaluation as a profession
the role of CES, including the CE system
special applications of evaluation
the relevance of, and processes associated with:
identifying evaluation objectives
identifying and engaging evaluation clients and stakeholders, and establishing roles
develop a program profile
creating evaluation questions and indicators
common data collection methods
creating an appropriate and valid evaluation design, including the selection of data collection methods
collecting data, including performance monitoring
data management
assessing data quality
data analysis, including cost effectiveness analysis
determining evaluation scale and budget
project management
synthesis of evidence leading to the development of conclusions and recommendations
evaluation reporting and dissemination
Participants will also gain elementary experience in:

• creating logic models
• developing indicators
• question construction
• creating an evaluation matrix
• writing findings statements
• creating a reporting plan
About the Facilitator
Paul Favaro Ph.D., CE is the Chief of Research, Program Evaluation, and Accountability for the Peel District School Board in Mississauga, Ontario. He teaches management sciences at York University in Toronto.
Dr. Favaro has authored or co-authored articles, chapters, and technical reports, and has conducted professional training workshops in the areas of program evaluation, performance measurement, and research methodology. He is on the editorial board of The Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation. Throughout his career, he has worked as a research consultant to a wide variety of government ministries, educational organizations, charitable foundations, and community-based programs. He has held several executive positions on the board of the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES). In 2010, he was awarded a fellowship in the CES. He is a Credentialed Evaluator by the Canadian Evaluation Society
