Short Abstract

Using UK International Climate Finance evaluation and synthesis work as case studies, we will present successful examples of evaluation communication and dissemination approaches to make complex evaluation findings timely and actionable for policymakers and programme partners.

Description

Large-scale, multi-country government programmes need real time evidence communicated in ways that are immediately actionable. Especially in the climate action policy area, where evidence is needed promptly to guide policymaking and steer investment, our practice must provide timely insights that inform decision making and support a shared understanding among a wide range of stakeholders.

As long-term evaluation partners for the UK's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) on its International Climate Finance (ICF) portfolio, Ipsos have developed and implemented a utilisation-focused communication approach for complex evaluations that run concurrently to programmes. This presentation will use our work on three ICF initiatives as case studies to demonstrate how we turned technical findings into actionable evidence.

First, we will illustrate an example of “iterative” learning through collaborative and country-level sessions. Our four-year, theory-based evaluation of the Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA), delivered across ten countries, was designed to run concurrently with the programme, employing longitudinal case studies to follow progress over time. This design implied that the communication of findings would also happen in real-time. To achieve this, we delivered early impact reporting to share lessons from the first wave of countries, created accessible infographics and factsheets for broader stakeholder engagement, and ran country-specific sessions with Embassy teams at both the mid-term and final stages. These workshops provided both a) a tool for dissemination to encourage ownership of and engagement with the findings, and b) a collaborative analytical input for our team, as we gathered insights on characteristics of in-country implementation.

Second, we will present on designing evaluation activities for use and collaboration from the outset. This principle is best illustrated by our ongoing evaluation of the Market Accelerator for Green Construction (MAGC). From its inception, this evaluation has featured a use and influence plan with the objective to communicate and discuss findings both with internal programme stakeholders and with wider external audiences. We also have flexibility to tailor specific activities as the evaluation progresses, for example by holding collaborative workshops between the donor (DESNZ) and the delivery partner (IFC) at key moments of emerging findings, and by taking opportunities for high profile external dissemination (e.g. at COP30).

Finally, we will focus on communicating evidence to shape policy, using our 2023 Synthesis of Learning from the UK ICF DESNZ Portfolio as an example. By gathering evidence from 28 evaluations into a targeted, accessible review, we provided DESNZ senior officials with a foundational document that continues to inform strategic policymaking.

The session will provide attendees with practical examples to increase the relevance and use of our evaluation work beyond the immediate programme team.