| Session Title: AEA and Public Engagement: How Can the American Evaluation Association’s Role in Public Engagement Contribute to Evaluation Quality? |
| Think Tank Session 587 to be held in Lone Star F on Friday, Nov 12, 1:40 PM to 3:10 PM |
| Sponsored by the AEA Conference Committee |
| Presenter(s): |
| Thomaz Chianca, COMEA Evaluation Ltd, thomaz.chianca@gmail.com |
| Discussant(s): |
| Nicki King, University of California, Davis, njking@ucdavis.edu |
| Jim Rugh, Independent Consultant, jimrugh@mindspring.com |
| Abstract: AEA’s shift in governance to a policy-based model has changed the structure and focus of all of the Association’s committees. The newly-formed Public Engagement Team (PET) is the amalgamation of AEA’s former Public Affairs and International Committees. We define “public engagement” (PE) as the coordinated set of activities AEA conducts outside our own association in order to (a) present to, (b) learn from, and (c) collaborate with other relevant organizations and individuals, both within the US and internationally. This think tank session will emphasize both small-group discussions and cross-group sharing on a variety of subjects related to PE: collaboration, learning from others, and presenting concerns about evaluation policy and practice. A specific issue we will use as an example for discerning how AEA can and should be involved in PE will be addressing the implications of the “NONIE Impact Evaluation Guidance” for how international development programs should be evaluated. |