Nigerian Association of Evaluators (NAE) and Afrihealth Optonet Association
Posted on 05/11/2025
BEYOND THE FINAL REPORT: WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO COMMUNICATE EVALUATION WELL?
by Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje
former National President, Nigerian Association of Evaluators (NAE)
Effective communication of evaluation goes far beyond producing a final report. It requires strategic, inclusive, and continuous engagement with diverse stakeholders before, during, and after the evaluation process. Communicating evaluation well means ensuring that evidence is not only generated but also understood, trusted, and used to inform decisions, improve performance, and drive change.
1. Clarity of purpose and audience: Evaluators must identify who needs the information—policy makers, implementers, funders, or communities—and tailor communication to their needs, literacy levels, and contexts. A technical report alone rarely moves decision-makers; instead, a blend of policy briefs, infographics, dashboards, community dialogues, and social media summaries ensures accessibility and resonance.
2. Timeliness and relevance: Waiting until the end of an evaluation to share findings limits influence. Continuous feedback loops, participatory sense-making sessions, and interim briefs help keep stakeholders engaged and build ownership of results. Communication should be iterative—helping users interpret data, understand implications, and act on insights as they emerge.
3. Storytelling and visualization: These transform data into compelling narratives that connect with human experiences. Visual tools such as graphs, maps, and success stories breathe life into statistics and demonstrate real-world impacts. Evaluators must also be culturally sensitive communicators, respecting local languages, norms, and values to ensure messages are accepted and understood.
4. Building relationships and trust: Communicating Evaluation involves transparency, integrity, and responsiveness—turning evaluation from a bureaucratic exercise into a learning journey. When communication bridges evidence and action, evaluation becomes a catalyst for accountability, transformation, and sustainable development.
Beyond the final report therefore, effective evaluation communication demands empathy, creativity, and collaboration—anchored in the purpose of learning and improving lives.
RE: Beyond the final report: What does it take to communicate evaluation well?
Nigeria
Uzodinma Adirieje
National President
Nigerian Association of Evaluators (NAE) and Afrihealth Optonet Association
Posted on 05/11/2025
BEYOND THE FINAL REPORT: WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO COMMUNICATE EVALUATION WELL?
by Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje
former National President, Nigerian Association of Evaluators (NAE)
Effective communication of evaluation goes far beyond producing a final report. It requires strategic, inclusive, and continuous engagement with diverse stakeholders before, during, and after the evaluation process. Communicating evaluation well means ensuring that evidence is not only generated but also understood, trusted, and used to inform decisions, improve performance, and drive change.
1. Clarity of purpose and audience: Evaluators must identify who needs the information—policy makers, implementers, funders, or communities—and tailor communication to their needs, literacy levels, and contexts. A technical report alone rarely moves decision-makers; instead, a blend of policy briefs, infographics, dashboards, community dialogues, and social media summaries ensures accessibility and resonance.
2. Timeliness and relevance: Waiting until the end of an evaluation to share findings limits influence. Continuous feedback loops, participatory sense-making sessions, and interim briefs help keep stakeholders engaged and build ownership of results. Communication should be iterative—helping users interpret data, understand implications, and act on insights as they emerge.
3. Storytelling and visualization: These transform data into compelling narratives that connect with human experiences. Visual tools such as graphs, maps, and success stories breathe life into statistics and demonstrate real-world impacts. Evaluators must also be culturally sensitive communicators, respecting local languages, norms, and values to ensure messages are accepted and understood.
4. Building relationships and trust: Communicating Evaluation involves transparency, integrity, and responsiveness—turning evaluation from a bureaucratic exercise into a learning journey. When communication bridges evidence and action, evaluation becomes a catalyst for accountability, transformation, and sustainable development.
Beyond the final report therefore, effective evaluation communication demands empathy, creativity, and collaboration—anchored in the purpose of learning and improving lives.