Cameroun, 2025
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Feminite Biologique Et Culturelle Dans L’ethnie Ngiembo'on Au Cameroun: Decolonisation Des Savoirs Au Benefice De L’evaluation Autochtone
Le projet d’Arnoux Nopi examine la féminité biologique et culturelle au sein de la communauté Ngiembo’on au Cameroun afin de renforcer les pratiques d’évaluation autochtones. Il répond à un défi majeur du travail de terrain : la difficulté de collecter des données fiables en raison du positionnement social des enquêtés. Le projet ancre ainsi la recherche dans les savoirs et les structures sociales locales. En s’intéressant à la signification du terme « femme », Arnoux analyse les dimensions biologiques et culturelles de la féminité, ainsi que les rôles et attentes qui y sont associés. À travers des entretiens et des discussions de groupe, il montre que « on naît femme mais on devient féminin ». Ce travail souligne l’importance du contexte culturel et la valeur des savoirs autochtones pour une évaluation pertinente et légitime. |
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Biological and Cultural Femininity among the Ngiembo’on in Cameroon: Decolonising Knowledge for Indigenous Evaluation
Arnoux Nopi’s project examines biological and cultural femininity within the Ngiembo’on community in Cameroon to strengthen Indigenous evaluation practices. It responds to a key challenge in fieldwork: difficulties collecting reliable data due to social positioning, where people may not speak openly. The project grounds research in local epistemologies and social structures. Focusing on the meaning of “woman,” Arnoux explores both biological and culturally constructed femininity, identifying associated roles, expectations, and restrictions. Through interviews and group discussions, he finds that “one is born female but becomes feminine,” shaped by both natural and social processes. The project highlights the importance of cultural context in understanding gender roles and demonstrates how Indigenous knowledge systems can strengthen the relevance and legitimacy of evaluation.
Arnoux Nopi’s project examines biological and cultural femininity within the Ngiembo’on community in Cameroon to strengthen Indigenous evaluation practices. It responds to a key challenge in fieldwork: difficulties collecting reliable data due to social positioning, where people may not speak openly. The project grounds research in local epistemologies and social structures. Focusing on the meaning of “woman,” Arnoux explores both biological and culturally constructed femininity, identifying associated roles, expectations, and restrictions. Through interviews and group discussions, he finds that “one is born female but becomes feminine,” shaped by both natural and social processes. The project highlights the importance of cultural context in understanding gender roles and demonstrates how Indigenous knowledge systems can strengthen the relevance and legitimacy of evaluation.
Côte d’Ivoire - Réseau Ivoirien des Evaluateurs Emergents (RI2E)
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Endogenous Knowledge and Governance: The Case of the Village of Kagbè
Francis Dago, Roger Apahou, and Christelle Tetialy examine how endogenous knowledge shapes local governance in Kagbè, Côte d’Ivoire, with a focus on women’s participation. Using interviews, focus groups, and observation, they explore leadership selection, governance practices, and gender roles. They find governance is strongly shaped by customary systems: leadership is hereditary and male-dominated, and key rituals are reserved for men. While women play vital roles in community life, their participation in formal decision-making remains limited. The project also identifies emerging change, with women’s associations gaining influence and some leaders opening advisory spaces. It highlights tensions between tradition and modernity, showing how culturally grounded approaches can support more inclusive and equitable evaluation and governance practices. |
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Savoirs endogènes et gouvernance : le cas du village de Kagbè
Francis Dago, Roger Apahou et Christelle Tetialy examinent comment les savoirs endogènes influencent la gouvernance locale à Kagbè, en Côte d’Ivoire, en mettant l’accent sur la participation des femmes. À travers des entretiens, des groupes de discussion et des observations, ils analysent les modes de sélection des leaders, les pratiques de gouvernance et les rôles de genre. Les résultats montrent que la gouvernance est fortement marquée par les systèmes coutumiers : le pouvoir est héréditaire et dominé par les hommes, et certains rituels sont réservés aux hommes. Bien que les femmes jouent un rôle essentiel dans la vie communautaire, leur participation aux décisions formelles reste limitée. Le projet met aussi en évidence des évolutions, soulignant l’importance d’approches d’évaluation plus inclusives et ancrées dans les réalités culturelles.
Francis Dago, Roger Apahou et Christelle Tetialy examinent comment les savoirs endogènes influencent la gouvernance locale à Kagbè, en Côte d’Ivoire, en mettant l’accent sur la participation des femmes. À travers des entretiens, des groupes de discussion et des observations, ils analysent les modes de sélection des leaders, les pratiques de gouvernance et les rôles de genre. Les résultats montrent que la gouvernance est fortement marquée par les systèmes coutumiers : le pouvoir est héréditaire et dominé par les hommes, et certains rituels sont réservés aux hommes. Bien que les femmes jouent un rôle essentiel dans la vie communautaire, leur participation aux décisions formelles reste limitée. Le projet met aussi en évidence des évolutions, soulignant l’importance d’approches d’évaluation plus inclusives et ancrées dans les réalités culturelles.
Kenya - Monitoring and Evaluation Professional Association of Kenya (M&EPAK) - 2025
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Leveraging Indigenous Taboos for Advancing Social Justice, Gender Equality, and Economic Policy Development in the Agikuyu Community
Solomon Michael Gitau Waiyego builds upon his earlier work documenting Agikuyu taboos, focusing in its current phase on systematizing and validating them. Taboos are being documented in their original Gikuyu language with English translations and contextual explanations. Categorized by theme (social, spiritual, economic), they reveal the community’s complex logic of moral order and accountability. Community elders and leaders from different regions are engaged in validation sessions, enriching the analysis with regional variations and insights into modern impacts. The research explores how taboos influence gender roles, environmental ethics, and economic decision-making. By combining local language preservation with evaluative reasoning, the project aims to influence social justice and policy conversations using Indigenous frameworks rooted in cultural identity. This project also works to align these insights with formal evaluation frameworks, demonstrating how Indigenous knowledge can inform culturally grounded, responsive policy and evaluation, while empowering communities and supporting more equitable development outcomes. |
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Strengthening Indigenous Evaluation Practices in Nepal, Community of Evaluators - Nepal - 2024-2025
On February 4, 2025, the Community of Evaluators – Nepal (CoE-Nepal), supported by the Asia Pacific Evaluation Association (APEA), EvalIndigenous, and EvalPartners, organized a workshop in Kathmandu aimed at strengthening Indigenous evaluation practices and forming a National Network for Evaluation in Nepal. The workshop brought together over 40 participants from government, UN agencies, academic institutions, Indigenous organizations, and evaluation professionals.
As part of the Germinating Grant Programme, CoE-Nepal also carried out a pilot study with the Tamang community of Konjyosom Rural Municipality to identify culturally relevant indicators for SDG 3, “Good Health and Well-being.” This study highlighted Indigenous perspectives on healthcare access, traditional healing, nutrition, and mental health, providing valuable insights for aligning national frameworks with community realities.
In the Opening Session, the Hon. Prof. Dr. Shiva Raj Adhikari, Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission, delivered the keynote address. Distinguished speakers and representatives from rural communities, government bodies, and international organizations contributed valuable insights. During the Technical Session, participants reviewed findings from the SDG 3 study and discussed monitoring and evaluation practices in Nepal’s education system. Group discussions focused on current challenges, opportunities, and practical solutions for integrating Indigenous evaluation into broader development frameworks. The workshop concluded with the formulation of an action plan and arrangements for follow-up meetings with key stakeholders.
As part of the Germinating Grant Programme, CoE-Nepal also carried out a pilot study with the Tamang community of Konjyosom Rural Municipality to identify culturally relevant indicators for SDG 3, “Good Health and Well-being.” This study highlighted Indigenous perspectives on healthcare access, traditional healing, nutrition, and mental health, providing valuable insights for aligning national frameworks with community realities.
In the Opening Session, the Hon. Prof. Dr. Shiva Raj Adhikari, Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission, delivered the keynote address. Distinguished speakers and representatives from rural communities, government bodies, and international organizations contributed valuable insights. During the Technical Session, participants reviewed findings from the SDG 3 study and discussed monitoring and evaluation practices in Nepal’s education system. Group discussions focused on current challenges, opportunities, and practical solutions for integrating Indigenous evaluation into broader development frameworks. The workshop concluded with the formulation of an action plan and arrangements for follow-up meetings with key stakeholders.
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In February 2025, the Nepal Evaluation Society (NES), with support from APEA and EvalIndigenous, hosted a two-day training in Kathmandu for members of the Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Journalists (FONIJ). This initiative aimed to strengthen the capacity of Indigenous journalists across Nepal's seven provinces to engage more deeply with evaluation—both as practitioners and as communicators. The program introduced core concepts such as development evaluation, the OECD/DAC criteria, and Nepal’s evolving national evaluation system, while also creating space for reflection on journalists’ roles in promoting transparency, evidence-based reporting, and Indigenous perspectives in development discourse.
Collaborative Reflections and Pathways Forward. Through a mix of expert presentations, group work, and panel discussions—including insights from parliamentarians, VOPEs, EvalYouth, and civil society—the training created a dynamic space for learning and dialogue. Participants explored their own experiences of evaluation and committed to bringing evaluation tools and thinking into their media work. The overwhelmingly positive feedback has sparked momentum for future collaboration, with FONIJ expressing strong interest in taking the training nationwide. As NES and FONIJ look ahead, this work represents a meaningful step in bridging Indigenous media and evaluation for more accountable and culturally grounded development. |
Inauguration of the Training Program by Hon Vice Chairman of NPC, Prof. (Dr.) Shiva Raj Adhikari
Some of the participants had questions
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The Ikalahan-Kalanguya Indigenous Youth Organization for Sustainable Development (IKAYO) held a Strategy Meeting on September 27-28, 2024, to solidify its vision, mission, and organizational direction. As a youth-led initiative, IKAYO aims to preserve indigenous knowledge, protect ancestral lands, and advocate for cultural and environmental sustainability. Through collaborative discussions and intergenerational dialogue, members crafted a shared vision that reflects their commitment to cultural continuity and responsible stewardship of their ancestral domain. The meeting also reinforced IKAYO’s role in regional and global Indigenous advocacy efforts.
Beyond defining its mission, the meeting focused on establishing IKAYO’s structure and planning key initiatives. A SWOT analysis helped identify strengths, challenges, and opportunities, leading to an action plan that includes intergenerational knowledge-sharing, environmental programs, and leadership training. Supported by partners such as APEA and EvalIndigenous, IKAYO members developed a strategic plan to implement activities like tree planting, legal training, and youth leadership development to empower its members. The gathering concluded with the adoption of IKAYO’s official logo and a presentation on Indigenous evaluation methodologies, symbolizing a unified step toward sustaining their cultural heritage and strengthening their advocacy for future generations.
Beyond defining its mission, the meeting focused on establishing IKAYO’s structure and planning key initiatives. A SWOT analysis helped identify strengths, challenges, and opportunities, leading to an action plan that includes intergenerational knowledge-sharing, environmental programs, and leadership training. Supported by partners such as APEA and EvalIndigenous, IKAYO members developed a strategic plan to implement activities like tree planting, legal training, and youth leadership development to empower its members. The gathering concluded with the adoption of IKAYO’s official logo and a presentation on Indigenous evaluation methodologies, symbolizing a unified step toward sustaining their cultural heritage and strengthening their advocacy for future generations.
Tanzania - Tanzania Evaluation Association (TanEA) - 2025
Evaluation of Wedding Ceremonies among the Bahaya of Tanzania
In this project, Mr. Rutagwelera Mutakyahwa, Dr. Almas Mazigo and Ms. Fortunata Mulekuzi continue their study of Bahaya communities use of collaborative evaluation during wedding ceremonies to promote accountability, community cohesion, and learning. Conducted in villages such as Bugabo and Kizimba, the study will capture the evaluative tools, protocols, and social practices embedded in traditional celebrations. This second phase of their project builds on their seeding grant study and delves deeper into ceremonies with minimal Western influence. It seeks to document metaphors, rituals, and symbolic practices tied to evaluation, aiming to inform culturally grounded and gender-sensitive evaluation approaches.
In this project, Mr. Rutagwelera Mutakyahwa, Dr. Almas Mazigo and Ms. Fortunata Mulekuzi continue their study of Bahaya communities use of collaborative evaluation during wedding ceremonies to promote accountability, community cohesion, and learning. Conducted in villages such as Bugabo and Kizimba, the study will capture the evaluative tools, protocols, and social practices embedded in traditional celebrations. This second phase of their project builds on their seeding grant study and delves deeper into ceremonies with minimal Western influence. It seeks to document metaphors, rituals, and symbolic practices tied to evaluation, aiming to inform culturally grounded and gender-sensitive evaluation approaches.
Shona and Swahili Proverbs, Tanzania: Evaluative and Philosophical Insights
Dr Almas Mazigo, Miss Miriam Mkombozi and Mr Patrick Mpedzisi
This project explores the evaluative philosophies embedded in African oral traditions by comparing Shona proverbs with insights from Swahili proverbs. Using the Extract–Learn–Orient (ELO) Framework, it shows that these proverbs are more than mere cultural expressions; they are structured systems of knowledge that shape how communities perceive reality, generate understanding, assign value, and take action. Shona proverbs focus on vigilance, lived experience, accountability, and proactive stewardship, while Swahili proverbs emphasize diagnostic foresight, dialogue, humility, and gradual progress. Together, they illustrate coherent, relational, and community-oriented approaches to evaluation. By integrating these insights with contemporary evaluation theory, the project advances the Made in Africa Evaluation (MAE) agenda and contributes to global discussions on epistemic justice. It challenges dominant technocratic models by presenting alternative paradigms rooted in reciprocity, participatory knowledge production, and adaptive practice. The study highlights African proverbs as legitimate sources of theoretical insight, capable of shaping more inclusive and context-sensitive evaluation frameworks. Ultimately, it demonstrates how combining Shona and Swahili evaluative logics can improve both local and international evaluation practices, promoting culturally grounded, ethically aware, and methodologically flexible approaches.
Dr Almas Mazigo, Miss Miriam Mkombozi and Mr Patrick Mpedzisi
This project explores the evaluative philosophies embedded in African oral traditions by comparing Shona proverbs with insights from Swahili proverbs. Using the Extract–Learn–Orient (ELO) Framework, it shows that these proverbs are more than mere cultural expressions; they are structured systems of knowledge that shape how communities perceive reality, generate understanding, assign value, and take action. Shona proverbs focus on vigilance, lived experience, accountability, and proactive stewardship, while Swahili proverbs emphasize diagnostic foresight, dialogue, humility, and gradual progress. Together, they illustrate coherent, relational, and community-oriented approaches to evaluation. By integrating these insights with contemporary evaluation theory, the project advances the Made in Africa Evaluation (MAE) agenda and contributes to global discussions on epistemic justice. It challenges dominant technocratic models by presenting alternative paradigms rooted in reciprocity, participatory knowledge production, and adaptive practice. The study highlights African proverbs as legitimate sources of theoretical insight, capable of shaping more inclusive and context-sensitive evaluation frameworks. Ultimately, it demonstrates how combining Shona and Swahili evaluative logics can improve both local and international evaluation practices, promoting culturally grounded, ethically aware, and methodologically flexible approaches.
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