ISO International Workshop Agreement (IWA) on Evaluation Capacity Development

Date: 17-21 October 2011
Venue: John Knox Centre, Geneva, Switzerland

Dear Colleagues:

A proposal prepared by the Evaluation Capacity Development Group (ECDG) and the Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation (JCSEE), in partnership with the International Organization for Cooperation in Evaluation (IOCE), to create an International Workshop Agreement (IWA) on evaluation capacity development (ECD) was recently approved by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Everyone agrees that there is an acute need to develop evaluation capacity. However, resolution of the problem has not been possible because there is no agreement on HOW to develop evaluation capacity. Some think that individual evaluators should be better trained through workshops and seminars.  Others think that organizations should be redesigned to enable the achievement of a shared vision for evaluation. And, yet others think that evaluation should be institutionalized in national governments to promote accountability to their citizens.

We are now organizing a workshop that will be held 17-21 October 2011 at the John Knox Centre, Geneva, Switzerland.  The workshop will use a systems approach to develop an IWA that integrates ECD at the individual, organizational and national levels.  I am particularly pleased to inform you that a leading expert in systems-based evaluation, Bob Williams, has consented to facilitate the event.

As per the procedures explained in Annex SI of the Supplement to the ISO/IEC Directives, ANY organization with an interest in evaluation capacity development can register to send a representative to the workshop to participate in the preparation of this important document. Limited support may be available.  To learn more about the workshop and to register please go to http://www.ecdg.net/

Best Regards,

Karen Russon
President
Evaluation Capacity Development Group

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