I would push the bar even higher. Should we really be talking about communicating findings—or about co-generating them? In most evaluations, the richest learning happens not through reports or presentations, but in the moments spent with primary stakeholders: debating, reflecting, and exchanging perspectives.
It’s less about designing perfect communication plans and more about being alert and opportunistic—recognizing when a conversation, observation, or joint reflection becomes a genuine learning space worth seizing. Those moments are where understanding deepens and ownership grows.
We often assume that communication happens through formal products, but the people who can truly drive change are usually not the ones reading reports. They are the ones living the realities we’re trying to understand. That’s where communication—and learning—need to start and stay.
RE: Beyond the final report: What does it take to communicate evaluation well?
Italy
Silva Ferretti
Freelance consultant
Posted on 24/10/2025
I would push the bar even higher. Should we really be talking about communicating findings—or about co-generating them? In most evaluations, the richest learning happens not through reports or presentations, but in the moments spent with primary stakeholders: debating, reflecting, and exchanging perspectives.
It’s less about designing perfect communication plans and more about being alert and opportunistic—recognizing when a conversation, observation, or joint reflection becomes a genuine learning space worth seizing. Those moments are where understanding deepens and ownership grows.
We often assume that communication happens through formal products, but the people who can truly drive change are usually not the ones reading reports. They are the ones living the realities we’re trying to understand. That’s where communication—and learning—need to start and stay.