With over 25 years and more than 500 engagements across the continent, Africa continues to teach us. It stretches our thinking, refines our practice, and deepens our respect for humanity. 

While no one can ever claim to fully understand its complexity, our experience has yielded valuable insights and practical tips for those undertaking evaluations across this vast, diverse landscape.

  1. Challenge – Navigating feedback in the context of funding dynamics

While there is often a great willingness to share insights, our experience shows that participants sometimes offer feedback they believe evaluators (and ultimately donors) want to hear. 

In contexts like these where resources are scarce, evaluators may be viewed as a link to future funding. As a result, stakeholders may withhold criticism in hopes of attracting continued support.

Solution – Overcoming the positivity bias proactively 

This type of engagement necessitates a multi-faceted approach, firstly observation becomes vital. We have found it important to spend time with a project and outside of the workshops to get a 360 degree and more objective view of the project.

Secondly, the use of a variety of reflective techniques to surface deeper insights. We tend to shy away from the direct focus group format and instead favour a workshop format where we use a range of tools such as community mapping, stakeholder analysis and SWOT exercises. This reveals lived experiences and helps us to develop a richer understanding. This also empowers participants, helping them feel seen, heard, and actively involved in the process.

Practical tips

  • Create safe spaces for honest sharing
  • Use observation to add depth and nuance
  • Rely on reflective technique and not just structured questions
  1. Challenge – Evaluating with a cultural bias

Africa is vast, diverse  and complex. Too often, projects in Africa are designed and evaluated through a solely Western paradigm that assumes uniform methods and pace. At worst, this tone of arrogance can hinder the work before it begins.

Solution – Show up with respect and an appreciation of context

Effective evaluation in Africa demands cultural humility. Our teams are always linguistically diverse and include local evaluators who understand cultural norms, context, and nuance. We always spend time decoding local practices and norms including developing an understanding of non-verbal cues. We also always build flexibility into timelines and engagement plans.

Storytelling is at the heart of how history, truth and evidence are shared in Africa. Storytelling ought never to be rushed, when we listen, we slow down and take off our mantles of Western understanding and knowledge, let go of rigid frameworks and open ourselves to listening to understand.

Practical tips

  • Slow down and listen without assumptions
  • Set aside Western definitions of efficiency and control
  • Work with local partners to interpret culture and cues
  1. Challenge – Evaluating in dynamic, unpredictable environments

Evaluation in Africa often happens in non-traditional settings. Oftentimes we will find ourselves in settings and situations that differ markedly from what you would expect. Data collection may not happen in a boardroom but under a tree, in the heat or with a village head or a circle of women. 

Sometimes also, we work with criminalised populations, such as sex workers, who take a risk just by showing up and who are not protected by the laws of the land.

Solution – Be adaptable, human and make no assumptions

Adaptability is critical. If the workshop happens in a classroom instead of a conference room or under a tree, lean in and enjoy the shade. Honour the environment as it is.

Equally important is a commitment to dignity and safety. We time engagements to respect caregiving or work duties and ensure confidentiality and security for vulnerable groups. 

We also work closely with local partners to navigate protocols with traditional leaders or government stakeholders, approaching all engagements with respect and without assumptions.

Practical tips

  • Be flexible and comfortable working in unconventional settings
  • Prioritise humanity and understand participants within their full context, no matter how different it is to your own
  • Let local partners guide your understanding of protocols
Still learning, still listening

Those who know the Southern Hemisphere history know that we started at the very tip of Africa 25 years ago in Cape Town. Even as an African firm and after 25 years of working on the continent, we know that we are still only scratching the surface of understanding but we do know this, Africa is not a monolith.

We know that we need to continue to listen deeply, adapt constantly, and engage with humility. We also know that we have to shed assumptions, to continue to build our partnerships so that when we start a project, we are able to collaborate with local experts from the outset

And most importantly, we have to centre human dignity because this ensures that we not only  gather better data but that we honour the people and stories that drive real meaningful social change.

Africa continues to teach us. We remain grateful students.