In a context where evidence is increasingly available but often underused, evaluation faces a familiar challenge: how to ensure that findings are not only produced, but understood, engaged with, and acted upon. Too often, communication remains an afterthought, limiting the reach, relevance, and influence of evaluation when in fact it has the potential to make a real difference. Building on previous blogs and online discussions, EvalforEarth is convening a cross-agency learning exchange to reflect on this gap and explore how communication can move beyond dissemination to become a driver of learning and use. Bringing together practitioners from FAO, IFAD, GEF, CGIAR and WFP, the session will not only showcase practical experiences, but also critically examine why communication efforts often fall short and what needs to change for evaluation to truly inform decisions and action.
Objectives
• Reflect on what is missing in current practices, from planning to follow-up.
• Share experiences that illustrate not only what works, but what had to change to make it work.
• Explore how early engagement, stakeholder participation, and collaboration with local actors can strengthen ownership and uptake.
• Identify practical, low-cost and innovative approaches, including emerging technologies, that can enhance accessibility and engagement.
• Discuss how we can better understand and assess whether communication is influencing learning, decisions, and action.