Academy of Evaluation. A capacity- building initiative for commissioning authorities

StatusVoR
Dublin Core metadata
Alternative title
Authors
Olejniczak, Karol
Stępień, Marlena
Strzęboszewski, Piotr
Monograph
The Power of Commissioning. Enabling Democratic Evaluation
Monograph (alternative title)
Editor
Stame, Nicoletta
Bustelo, Maria
Date
2026-10-23
Place of publication
Publisher
Routledge
Journal title
The Power of Commissioning
Volume
Pages
189-203
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ISBN
9781041361237
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https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/oa-edit/10.4324/9781042000968-17/academy-evaluation-karol-olejniczak-marlena-st%C4%99pie%C5%84-piotr-strz%C4%99boszewski?context=ubx&refId=cfbcd221-9cac-4665-9fdb-6f35c754e45f
Access date
2026-10-23
Remarks
Abstract PL
Abstract EN
The chapter examines the Academy of Evaluation (AE), a pioneering capacity-building initiative for commissioning authorities in Poland’s evaluation system. Implemented between 2008 and 2017 through a partnership between the Polish National Evaluation Unit and the University of Warsaw, the AE delivered eight editions of postgraduate education to 250 civil servants from evaluation units across national and regional administrations. The chapter analyzes AE’s evolution from a technical training focused on “contracting evaluations” to a comprehensive educational framework centered on developing “knowledge brokers” – intermediaries who facilitate evidence-informed decision-making in public administration. Drawing on program documentation, participant surveys, external evaluations and reflective analysis, authors discuss AE’s Theory of Change, curriculum and pedagogical approach. The findings demonstrate that sustained academic programs can effectively build evaluation capacity among commissioning authorities, thereby improving the quality of terms of reference, contractors’ collaboration and professional networks within the evaluation system. However, the initiative’s impact was constrained by broader socio-institutional factors that affected evidence use in policymaking. The chapter offers insights for designing evaluation capacity-building programs, emphasizing adaptive programming, practitioner-academic collaboration and evaluation within the context of democratic governance. It offers lessons for initiatives strengthening evaluation systems through professional development, focusing on curriculum design, institutional cooperation and alignment with socio-political contexts.
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Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 17. Partnership for the goals
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Instytut Nauk Społecznych
URI
https://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/2690
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cc-by-nc-nd
Except as otherwise noted, this item is licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence | Permitted use of copyrighted works
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Acquisition Date20.10.2022
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Acquisition Date20.10.2022