A Reflection in Podcast Format Inspired by the Contributions of Silva Ferretti
We are pleased to present Episode 14 of the EvalParticipativa podcast, now in its new AI-assisted format. This episode explores an ongoing debate within the field of evaluation, drawing on the ideas of Silva Ferretti, an international consultant who advocates for rethinking how programmes and projects are evaluated.
Through a conversation between two fictional characters, the episode examines two different ways of understanding evaluation. On the one hand, there is an approach focused on meeting technical and methodological requirements. On the other, there is a more open and collaborative perspective, where evaluators move away from the role of the all-knowing expert and instead act as facilitators of learning.
From this viewpoint, the most meaningful insights emerge through joint work with the people involved in the programmes being evaluated and through the creation of spaces for dialogue, reflection and collective learning. Rather than seeking to settle the debate or presenting these perspectives as completely opposing positions, the episode invites listeners to see evaluation as a flexible tool that can challenge established assumptions and adapt to the real needs of different communities. The discussion also highlights the value of innovative approaches and visual methods that help strengthen the autonomy, creativity and capacity for action of those who experience the realities being evaluated. You access the video in Spanish with automatic English subtitles.
The EvalParticipativa Podcast
Now entering its third year, this initiative was created as a space for conversation, exchange and connection among members of the participatory evaluation community of practice and learning across Latin America. Its purpose is to encourage collective learning, showcase practical experiences and promote forms of evaluation that are built with people and rooted in local contexts.
Each episode features leading practitioners and experts from across the region, who share not only their professional knowledge and experience but also the motivations and personal stories that have shaped their journeys. In this way, evaluation is presented as a living practice, closely connected to real-world contexts, social processes and the experiences of those involved.
Ultimately, the podcast aims to bridge reflection and action, bringing together specialist knowledge and the insights that emerge from practice. It promotes an open, critical and engaged perspective on evaluation as a means of learning, improving and contributing to social change. And what about you? Would you like to share your experience?
