Short Abstract

This session presents findings from anonymised interviews with civil servants and evaluators on why some evaluation reports drive change while others are quietly shelved. A panel drawn from the interviewees will offer candid, real-time responses and invite the audience into the conversation.

Description

Why do some evaluation reports spark action, while others quietly gather dust? This session will present findings from a new research project exploring the factors that determine whether evaluation evidence is used, ignored, or forgotten.

The research will be based on semi-structured, one-to-one depth interviews with three groups: senior civil servants, evaluation specialists, and consultants responsible for delivering evaluations. Interviews will be anonymised to encourage candid reflection on the realities of evidence use in policy and practice.

The study will explore what makes evaluation reports land – from timing and relevance to tone, relationships, and political context. It will also examine the subtler dynamics that shape how evidence is received: the role of trust, the influence of internal champions, and the unspoken rules about what can be acted on. Participants will be invited to reflect on evaluations that made a difference, and those that were “filed in a safe place” never to be seen again.

The session will begin with a 20-minute presentation of the research findings. This will be followed by a panel discussion featuring pairs of officials and evaluators drawn from the research. These panellists will offer real-time reflections on the findings, drawing on their own experience to challenge, validate, or expand the insights. The audience will then be invited into the conversation through a Q&A.

The session will be hosted by senior evaluators at Verian, a world-leading research and evaluation consultancy. Verian consultants will lead the research and use their networks to identify officials willing to speak candidly. To support participation and build capacity, departments involved in the research will be offered a pro-bono ‘Evaluation 101’ course for a selection of departmental delegates as a thank you for their time.