EU Evaluation Support Service, managed by Landell Mills, establishes Evaluation in Crisis Initiative in response to Covid-19

Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the EU Evaluation Support Service (ESS), managed by Landell Mills, has established an Evaluation in Crisis Initiative in response to the evaluation-related challenges caused by the pandemic. Based in Brussels, the ESS contributes to creating a culture of robust evaluation practices among the European Commission's International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO) staff, both at HQ and European Delegations worldwide.

With support from Landell Mills, in April 2020 the ESS launched the Eval In Crisis platform, to share resources on state-of-the-art evaluation methodologies and tools. The platform supports DG DEVCO staff in their decision-making, as well as facilitating knowledge sharing amongst the wider international evaluation community on adapting to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The platform features a range of resources, including ESS-produced blog posts and podcasts, and offers ideas and solutions for conducting evaluations during a global pandemic.

Experts including Rick Davies, Independent M&E Consultant, Andre Kahlmeyer, Director of Conflict Management Consulting, and Oscar Garcia, Director of the Independent Evaluation Office of the UNDP, have contributed to the initiative. Resources cover topics including methods for conducting surveys remotely; data collection techniques suited to crisis situations; speedy adaptation of processes; and techniques for checking facts remotely. As the lead consortium partner for the project, Landell Mills ensures the ESS team are provided with adequate resources and support to deliver their work to the best of their capabilities.

More information about the Evaluation in Crisis Initiative can be found on twitter using the hashtag #EvalCrisis, and by subscribing to the ESS bi-weekly newsletters.