SHEvaluators, 2025 & Beyond.
As we usher in 2025, the SHEvaluators support team came together to reflect on the journey so far. Initiated by Impactometrics International and funded by its convener, SHEvaluators is more than just a project—it’s a movement. With a mission to foster gender-responsive and inclusive evaluation practices in Africa.SHEvaluators is equipping young African women with the skills and networks they need to lead the field of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL). Our journey began formally in May 2024, changing what initially started as a concept for a postgraduate thesis into a pan-African initiative that inspires young women across the continent. From Malawi to Tanzania, Nigeria to Senegal and Zambia, Zimbabwe to Botswana and Namibia, SHEvaluators has created a ripple effect of empowerment, skill-building, and inclusivity in the MERL space. About SHEvaluators: SHEvaluators seeks to addresses the unique challenges being faced by African women in program evaluation within the humanitarian and development sector by providing structured pathways for their professional growth. Our goal is to increase gender participation in MERL, facilitate learning opportunities among female evaluators, and maintain a support network for young evaluators across Africa. Through comprehensive training, practical experience, and ongoing mentorship, we aim to empower a new generation of evaluators to contribute to more equitable and impactful development work. Key Achievements in 2024: 2024 marked an exciting start for SHEvaluators, as we engaged with young women across 9 African countries through the SHEvaluators MERL Career Guidance Seminar. These one-day summits introduced participants to the ever-evolving dynamic world of MERL, equipping them with foundational skills, networking opportunities, and inspiration to pursue careers in this impactful field. This one-day seminar was tailored for final-year students and recent graduates eager to explore careers in MERL sector Here are some highlights: Our Vision for 2025 and Beyond SHEvaluators is not just a program, it is a movement to build a future where African women lead transformative evaluation practices across the continent. Through targeted interventions, mentorship, and sustained support, we envision a vibrant network of skilled female evaluators driving meaningful change in their communities and beyond. While our achievements in 2024 have been significant, we recognize the need to scale our efforts. Our target is to reach 500 young women in the first year of implementation. To accelerate this, we plan to roll out a remote career guidance seminar series starting in February 2025. These virtual sessions will break geographical barriers, enabling us to connect with more aspiring female evaluators across Africa. Moreso, by leveraging digital technologies, we aim to provide access to this vital training to young women in even the most remote parts of the continent. How can you be part of this? Advanced evaluators – volunteer your time to mentor and support the young women in our network. Development partners: be open to taking in our outstanding members as interns within your organizations. As we continue this journey, we invite partners, institutions, and individuals to join us in fostering gender equity and inclusivity in MERL. Together, we can raise the next generation of African female evaluators and create a lasting impact on development across the continent. Let’s empower, inspire, and grow together in 2025 and beyond!