aes24 International Evaluation Conference

Authors: Laura Glynn (Simna)

The measurement space has seen many new actors, terms, approaches and “gold standards” emerge in the last two decades. More than ever before has it become difficult to navigate and explore our intended destination in the space of measurement and evaluation. What schools of thought are worth exploring? What value do they offer to an existing evaluation skillset? We are also traversing through heightened levels of complexity, with cost of living, environmental and society fabric crises. In this busy and crowded environment, the Social Impact Measurement Network (SIMNA) led panel will seek to explore the similarities and differences between evaluation and social impact measurement (SIM) as mindsets to help steer us towards our destination.

The panel will involve 3 speakers from diverse sectoral backgrounds – government, not-for-profit, and private spheres, all commenting (broadly) on the questions: Are evaluation and social impact measurement the same? To what extent do they differ? How can they complement one another? While the questions themselves will be more nuanced than that, the answers will hold broad value for attendees in considering how they can bring complementary approaches and mindsets to navigating the work they do in measurement and evaluation. The panellists will draw on their unique perspectives across different sectoral and practice spaces to discuss this complementarity.