Fifth Howard White Lecture

Institutionalising evaluations at the national level: the power of storytelling

Gonzalo Hernández Licona (CONEVAL and former 3ie board commissioner) presented challenges to setting up national monitoring and evaluation units and how evaluators have to work within political systems to create impact. He stressed that evidence needs to be narrated in a way that is accessible and easily understood by all stakeholders. People respond to stories they can understand and identify with, so evidence needs to be part of the story. He discussed the idea of institutionalising the everyday use of evidence in a systematic way. He also spoke about his own experiences setting up 3ie and being part of the CONEVAL, and his efforts at explaining the technicalities of evaluation to people in politics.