The funny thing about evaluation capacity building projects is that, if you do them well, you will eventually work yourself out of a job. Sometimes that is exactly why we are hired. We are asked to provide support and training so that a client’s team can eventually conduct evaluation on their own. Other times a client’s portfolio and interest in evaluation grow to the point that it simply makes the most sense to establish a new and internal evaluator position. Our current portfolio of projects includes both types. Each of these scenarios will eventually result in the loss of a client or a shift from an evaluator to an advisory role. Even so, they still feel like a win to me – they reflect a recognition and appreciation for evaluation and the important role that it can play in how decisions are made. And for a data geek like me, what could be better than that?
Meet the Catalyst Team
We're glad you're here! We are evaluators, researchers, and strategists who study and support STEM education programs. We specialize in the in-between spaces where we can use data to get context, tell important stories, and help our clients take strategic action in their programs.