Project Details.

Background: HIMAT Consulting (Pvt) Ltd organized a web-based panel discussion on June 4, 2020, in collaboration with the J-Pal South Asia initiative as part of the gLOCAL Evaluation Week 2020. This event was co-partnered in Pakistan by Experts in Management Sciences (Pvt) Ltd, with Tezhost Pvt Ltd serving as the technical partner, providing the platform for the panel discussion. The event partners included IEG World Bank, Inter American Bank, SDC, SIDA, and the Rock Feller Foundation, all contributing to the success of gLOCAL Evaluation Week 2020. Themes of Panel Discussions: The panel discussions focused on two main themes: Monitoring and Evaluation Methods: Addressing issues and challenges in evaluations. Innovations in Evaluation Practice: Exploring innovations and best practices in evaluation methods and reporting. Call for Presentations: A call for presentations was issued, inviting participants to make short presentations on any of the listed themes. Interested parties were requested to submit a half-page abstract of their presentation by May 10, 2020. Mode of Presentations: The presentations were conducted online. Each presenter was allotted a 30-minute slot for their presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session. This format facilitated an engaging and interactive discussion among participants and experts. Objectives: The primary objectives of the panel discussion were to: Share knowledge and experiences on monitoring and evaluation methods. Highlight innovations and best practices in the field of evaluation. Foster collaboration and learning among evaluation professionals and organizations. 

Outcome: The event successfully brought together a diverse group of experts and practitioners from various organizations. On June 4, 2020, Himat Consulting (Pvt) Ltd, in collaboration with the J-Pal South Asia initiative, successfully organized a web-based panel discussion as part of the gLOCAL Evaluation Week 2020. The event was co-partnered by Experts in Management Sciences (Pvt) Ltd in Pakistan, with Tezhost Pvt Ltd serving as the technical partner, providing the platform for the online discussion. Event partners included IEG World Bank, Inter American Bank, SDC, SIDA, and the Rockefeller Foundation, supporting the overarching goals of gLOCAL Evaluation Week 2020. 

Themes of Panel Discussions: The panel discussions focused on the following themes: Monitoring and Evaluation Methods: Addressing issues and challenges in evaluations. 

Innovations in Evaluation Practice: Exploring innovations and best practices in evaluation methods and reporting. 

Call for Presentations: A call for presentations was issued, inviting experts to contribute to the discussion by presenting on any of the listed themes. Interested participants were asked to submit a half-page abstract of their presentation to HIMAT Consulting by May 10, 2020. 

Mode of Presentations: Presentations were conducted online, with each presenter allocated a 30-minute slot followed by a question-and-answer session. This format allowed for in-depth exploration of each topic and facilitated interactive engagement among participants. 

Presentation Highlights: Evaluation Challenges: Design and Planning: Presenters discussed common challenges in the initial stages of evaluation, such as setting clear objectives, selecting appropriate methodologies, and ensuring stakeholder engagement. 

Implementation Issues: Challenges related to the execution of evaluations, including logistical difficulties, resource constraints, and maintaining fidelity to the evaluation design.