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Sensemaking in Turbulent Times

Are you feeling confused and overwhelmed by the daily headlines and seismic changes occurring in our world?  In their recent London School of Economics blog post "Sensemaking in Turbulent Times", Irene Guijt and Judy Oakden address the challenges change-makers face amidst global uncertainty. They introduce a structured approach to collective reflection, emphasising five guiding questions designed to foster clarity, nuance, and collaboration. The sensemaking methodology used by Guijt an...

Reflection on findings, challenges and opportunities of a long-term evaluation

Healthy Families NZ is a large-scale chronic disease prevention initiative that aims to create a healthier Aotearoa New Zealand.Set up by the New Zealand Ministry of Health in 2014, Healthy Families NZ currently has funding until 2026. Presently operating in 10 locations nationwide, Healthy Families NZ locations do not fund, or deliver services, or interventions within their communities - they aim to accelerate and mobilise action within the health system and beyond.The Healthy Families NZ appro...

Election Access Fund Act reviewed

The Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture commissioned Kinnect Group member Pragmatica to undertake an external process evaluation of the Election Access Fund Act 2020 and Election Access Fund. The Election Access Fund Act 2020 supports disabled people to participate as candidates in general elections. The evaluation reviewed the operation and effectiveness of the Act and Fund, as required by section 10 of the Act.Originating as a private member’s Bill from Mojo Mathers, the Election Access F...

Improving the oral health of preschool children who are most at risk of poor oral health outcomes

Poor oral health is largely preventable, yet it is also one of the most common chronic health problems experienced by New Zealanders of all ages. A body of evidence links poor oral health to several risk factors and determinants common to other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. ‘Good oral health for all, for life’ is the strategic vision for oral health in New Zealand and starts with promoting oral health for the youngest and most vulnerable members of our soci...

Value for Investment now used in whole-of-government evaluation training in UK

The Value for Investment approach is now included in evaluation training at whole-of-government level in the UK through the Evaluation Task Force (ETF). The ETF is a joint HM Treasury and Cabinet Office unit established to ensure evidence and evaluation sit at the heart of spending decisions.   The ETF’s Evaluation Academy trains evaluators across the UK government, using a train-the-trainer model. The value for money (VfM) training module recommends the use ...

Nan Wehipeihana honoured in the Evaluation Journal of Australasia

Kinnect Group member Nan Wehipeihana, Director of Weaving Insights, recently provided her evaluator perspective as a Fellow of the Australian Evaluation Society to Anthea Rutter. “Members who have made a long-term and wide-ranging contribution to the Australian Evaluation Society (AES) and the field of evaluation are recognised through a special category of membership called ‘Fellow of the AES’. Nan was made a Fellow in 2021. She has been in the evaluation profession since the la...

New guide to apply VfI in health and social services settings available

Kinnect Group member Dovetail Consulting recently conducted a VfI evaluation of the national Youth Primary Care Mental Health and Addictions Initiative. As part of this project they developed a new VfI guide. The guide helps evaluators apply the approach in health and social services settings. In this guide the team observed:“VfI isn’t a method; it’s a system, comprising a set of principles and a process within which evaluators are encouraged to work reflectively and re...

Using case studies to show inspiring farm community led environmental action

Kinnect Group member, Judy Oakden, Director of Pragmatica is adept in preparing case studies to capture key progress of government agencies and NGO’s strategies, policies and programmes. An example is two case studies Pragmatica prepared in 2022 and 2023 on the work of Thriving Southland. The cases highlight the ongoing success of their community led response to environmental challenges. The latest 2023 case study, Inspiring community action: Thriving Southland provides extensio...

UK Evaluation Society Innovation in Methodologies Prize

Julian King, with UK-based colleagues Esther Namukasa and Alex Hurrell, received the UK Evaluation Society Innovation in Methodologies Prize for their presentation at the 2022 UK Evaluation Conference.  The presentation, Theory-based evaluation: incorporating value creation in a theory of change, described how Oxford Policy Management has applied this innovation in value for money frameworks for development programmes....

American Evaluation Association’s Outstanding Evaluation Award 2019

Kinnect Group members Kate McKegg and Judy Oakden, with our evaluation colleagues Debbie Goodwin and Jacqui Henry, received the prestigious American Evaluation Association’s Outstanding Evaluation Award in 2019. The award is for the Developmental Evaluation of the Waikato Regional Council’s Collaborative Stakeholder Group process. This award is significant for the field of evaluation. It recognises a developmental evaluation, using evaluation specific methodology, as a form of outstanding ev...

Developmental Evaluation Institute for Social Justice: Faster Forward Fund Grant

The Developmental Evaluation for Social Justice Institute is the brainchild of Nora Murphy of the TerraLuna Collaborative and Kate McKegg and Nan Wehipeihana of the Kinnect Group....

Release Announcement: Evaluation Building Blocks – A Guide

The Kinnect Group developed this evaluation guide over ten years working together. It is our pleasure to share it with you here....