Thank you for this stimulating discussion, I have really appreciated the reflections shared so far, especially on how communication can transform evaluation from a compliance exercise into a process that fosters learning, ownership, and accountability.
From my experience working on multi-country health programmes, communication becomes most effective when local partners, youth, community leaders, and community health workers are actively involved in shaping and sharing the evidence. Youth, in particular, play a vital role in extending the reach and resonance of evaluation messages. As a youth mentor and champion in the public health space, I have witnessed first-hand the creativity, energy, and innovation that young people bring; qualities that can be powerfully leveraged to make findings more relatable and widely shared.
They bring context, authenticity, that make evaluation messages more inclusive and meaningful. For instance, involving youth advocates in co-developing briefs or facilitating dissemination events often changes how findings are interpreted and acted upon, therefore transforming evidence into dialogue that truly represents those most affected. Depending on the topic, engaging community and religious leaders alongside youth can further enhance reach, credibility, and ownership, helping turn evaluation into a collective process of reflection and action.
Since communities already gather for church services, sports events, school events and other social or cultural activities, these existing platforms offer a powerful and cost-effective way to share evaluation findings and stimulate dialogue. Leveraging such familiar spaces not only reduces the costs of organising separate dissemination events but also ensures that messages reach people in settings where they naturally engage, discuss, and reflect. Embedding communication within these community structures enhances trust, fosters inclusion, and helps translate evidence into collective action.
RE: Beyond the final report: What does it take to communicate evaluation well?
Kenya
Julian Nyamupachitu
Regional Lead-MERL
Options
Posted on 29/10/2025
Thank you for this stimulating discussion, I have really appreciated the reflections shared so far, especially on how communication can transform evaluation from a compliance exercise into a process that fosters learning, ownership, and accountability.
From my experience working on multi-country health programmes, communication becomes most effective when local partners, youth, community leaders, and community health workers are actively involved in shaping and sharing the evidence. Youth, in particular, play a vital role in extending the reach and resonance of evaluation messages. As a youth mentor and champion in the public health space, I have witnessed first-hand the creativity, energy, and innovation that young people bring; qualities that can be powerfully leveraged to make findings more relatable and widely shared.
They bring context, authenticity, that make evaluation messages more inclusive and meaningful. For instance, involving youth advocates in co-developing briefs or facilitating dissemination events often changes how findings are interpreted and acted upon, therefore transforming evidence into dialogue that truly represents those most affected. Depending on the topic, engaging community and religious leaders alongside youth can further enhance reach, credibility, and ownership, helping turn evaluation into a collective process of reflection and action.
Since communities already gather for church services, sports events, school events and other social or cultural activities, these existing platforms offer a powerful and cost-effective way to share evaluation findings and stimulate dialogue. Leveraging such familiar spaces not only reduces the costs of organising separate dissemination events but also ensures that messages reach people in settings where they naturally engage, discuss, and reflect. Embedding communication within these community structures enhances trust, fosters inclusion, and helps translate evidence into collective action.