My capacity building approach

My approach draws on relational systems evaluation and research on how people learn. Evaluation capacity grows when people have opportunities to practice useful skills in the context of their own work, with support that responds to their needs.

Partnership

People within an organization bring knowledge of their programs, communities, and context. I bring expertise in evaluation and education. Our work combines these perspectives to develop approaches that are useful, feasible, and grounded in the organization’s goals.

Participation

Learning benefits from diverse perspectives. I work with partners to include people from different roles and levels of an organization in ways that are meaningful for them. Attention to relationships, roles, and opportunities to contribute supports open discussion and shared understanding.

Practice

People learn by trying an approach, reflecting on the experience, and trying again. My workshops combine explanation and examples with guided practice using participants’ own work. Together, we identify ways to incorporate evaluative thinking and learning into regular routines.

Flexibility

Every organization and participant group is different. I develop a detailed, customized plan and remain responsive to feedback as the work unfolds. Reflection and adjustment are part of my practice as both an educator and a consultant.