Short Abstract

Youth Evaluation Teams shifted power, built trust & demonstrated how youth can make evaluation more inclusive, ethical & contextually relevant. This presentation draws on learning from Ghana, Senegal, and Ecuador, where youth adapted tools, and collected, analysed and validated data from peers

Description

Within an evaluation of a Fondation Botnar-funded programme, SDDirect embedded six Youth Evaluation Teams (YETs) across Ghana, Senegal, and Ecuador to ensure that young people could adapt and contextualise tools, and collect, analyse and validate data from their peers. Members of the six YETs—composed of two local young women and two local young men uninvolved with the programme—were recruited through open calls, and were trained in participatory evaluation methods, safeguarding, ethics, and peer facilitation. SDDirect used this approach to enhance the credibility, contextual relevance, and inclusiveness of the evaluation. Having YETs supports Fondation Botnar’s exploration of youth being active agents of evidence-generation and change.

This model reaffirmed the value of participatory, youth-centred evaluation approaches, recognising that youth participation is not simply about inclusion, but about transforming traditional power dynamics in how evidence is generated, interpreted, and used. From the outset, the evaluation team acknowledged that young people are often positioned as subjects of inquiry rather than as decision-makers within evaluation processes. In response, the YET model was intentionally designed to redistribute power. For example, during training and data collection, we created deliberate spaces for dialogue, co-decision-making and critical reflection between adults and youth. This enabled the evaluation to be conducted “with” rather than “on” youth.

Youth participation had various benefits. Their familiarity with youth spaces and community realities enabled safer, more relatable, and inclusive data-collection environments. Their presence fostered trust and openness, helping to surface richer, more authentic narratives that might have remained hidden in adult-led data collection activities. Youth participation not only produced evidence that was grounded and credible, but also strengthened young people’s capacity and confidence to act as advocates in their cities. They became ambassadors for findings, shared insights with municipal stakeholders and other groups, thus extending evaluation influence beyond data collection to real-world action.

However there were challenges and lessons in balancing truly participatory principles with ethics, quality and accountability. We learned that transforming power requires structure: clear ethical frameworks, continuous support and mentoring, and feedback loops to maintain quality standards. Daily debriefs, adaptive coaching, and co-reflection sessions helped maintain rigour while supporting young people’s confidence and skill development. Transforming power is not a one-time act but a continuous, negotiated process that requires humility, transparency, and trust. This approach reframed evaluation itself as a tool for empowerment.

The presentation will discuss practical design choices, lessons and challenges and how these were addressed, situating the YET experience within broader debates on decolonising and democratising evaluation. By highlighting what worked and what required adjustment, it aims to inspire evaluators to make youth participation ethical and impactful rather than symbolic. Attendees can also take away actions on how to mitigate risks and challenges.

Subject to funding approval, this presentation will model the commitment to sharing power: an evaluator from one of the YETs will co-present alongside an SDDirect staff member. This illustrates how youth voices continue to shape not only evidence generation but also the communication of learning.