Reflections from the European Evaluation Society’s Thematic Working Group (TWG) 1 – Gender & Equity – webinar. By Nur Hidayati (Senior Advisor in Feminist & Participatory MEL, SRHR & Gender Equality), Susan Bergson (Lead Consultant, Impact Journey Collective) and Yulye Jessica Romo Ramos (Principal Consultant & Director, Nexus Evaluation and co-lead of TWG 1)
Early in November, Yulye hosted and moderated a European Evaluation Society (EES), TWG 1 webinar on “Using a Feminist and Equity Lens in Evaluation” – with Nur and Susan as guest speakers. We invited fellow practitioners to see evaluation not merely as a technical exercise, but as an act of justice and a way of redistributing voice, power, and accountability in the systems we study, increasing positive impact for all.
Why a Feminist and Equity Lens?
When we talk about feminist or equity approaches to monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), we’re not adding complexity for its own sake. We are increasing the rigour and relevance of evaluation findings, ensuring they become a driver for social change, by expanding our vision of what counts as evidence, whose knowledge matters, and, importantly, who tends to be overlooked or excluded in conventional approaches.
As evaluators, we’ve learned that it’s not enough to ask who is included; we also need to ask included in what ways, and why? Equally, we must ask, who is missing, how are they excluded, and what assumptions make their absence seem acceptable?
As I (Nur Hidayati) noted in our opening discussion, inclusivity is the heart of this work, but not tokenistic inclusivity:
“We want meaningful involvement of those most affected — not just as respondents, but as co-creators throughout the evaluation process.”
A feminist and equity lens helps us move beyond the “what changed” question to the deeper “for whom and why?” It sharpens our awareness of power dynamics and blind spots, often invisible in conventional evaluations. This aligns with principles articulated by Oxfam’s Feminist MEAL Steering document and the Equality Fund’s Feminist Approaches to MEL which both stress agency, intersectionality, and systems change as essential dimensions of learning.
What Difference Does It Make?
For us, applying these lenses isn’t only an ethical choice, it makes our evaluations more rigorous, credible, and useful. As Susan Bergson shared:
“When we deliberately include those with less institutional power, our findings are more grounded in reality; they are more relevant, more actionable, and more owned by the people who live with their consequences.”
Our conversation drew from global research (see Partos’ Rethinking MEL: a guide for a Feminist approach and the new UNEG Guidance on Integrating Human Rights and Gender Equality in Evaluations). Across these frameworks, common values emerge:
- Acknowledging power
- Sharing agency
- Valuing multiple knowledges
- Centring care and safety
Elevating lived experience is one that is missing from the above list, but one that is equally important. It is worth noting that we support a non-binary understanding of gender.
Working in Hostile or Indifferent Environments
Not every context welcomes the word “feminist.” I reflected on the practical navigation this requires.
“Language can open doors…or close them. Sometimes ‘equity,’ ‘inclusion,’ or ‘participation’ serve as more acceptable entry points, and we can combine them to create more powerful impact.”
Strategies include:
- Using neutral framing or inclusive language
- Providing data-driven justification (e.g. linking gender analysis to accuracy and relevance)
- Using dual messaging (internal vs. external communication)
As Yulye remarked:
“Applying a gender transformative or feminist lens to evaluation requires us to negotiate our way through dominant systems and practices. And even in the worst-case scenarios – where the time, resources and/or willingness does not allow for it – we have a responsibility to plan the seeds for it by adding it into the recommendations and by continuing to educate and advocate for it.”
From Gender-Blind to Feminist: A Practical Continuum
To help participants locate their own practice, we shared a continuum from gender-blind to gender-sensitive, gender-transformative, and feminist approaches.
| Approach | What it looks like | Key reflection question |
| Gender-blind | Ignores differences; assumes same impacts for all | Does the evaluation mention gender, equity, or inclusion at all? |
| Gender-sensitive | Recognizes differences but doesn’t address power | Are gender issues visible in design, indicators, or analysis? |
| Gender-transformative | Challenges inequities; shifts norms and structures | Who benefits, who loses, and what systemic change is needed? |
| Feminist | Centres power, voice, and intersectionality; seeks justice | Are marginalized groups defining outcomes and shaping the process? Is there any shifting power, how the power is shifted? |
A feminist or equity-focused evaluation is only as strong as its team. We emphasised mixed expertise, intersectional awareness, and reflexivity as critical skills for practitioners.
Final Thoughts: From Reflection to Action
During our closing reflection, Susan shared:
“Evaluation is not just about measuring change, it is an active mechanism of change.”
Through feminist and equity lenses, MEL becomes a collective act of learning and transformation.
This EES’ TWG 1 webinar reminded us that feminist and equity MEL is not an alternative methodology, it’s a paradigm shift. It calls us to move from extractive inquiry to co-creation, from compliance to accountability and care, and from counting outcomes to amplifying voices, local knowledge and lived experience
There was much appetite for continuing this conversation, particularly with commissioners and funders. TWG 1 will continue to host these conversations throughout the year and at the upcoming EES conference in 2026. Please join our group to be part of the discussion!
Co-authors Bios:
Nur Hidayati, MPH is a senior evaluator, learning specialist, and advisor with over 20 years of experience in feminist and participatory monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL). She has held senior leadership roles as Team Leader and Director of an international consultancy in the Netherlands and has led complex, multi-country evaluations for governments, international NGOs, multilateral agencies, and civil society organisations. Her work focuses on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender equality and women’s empowerment, HIV and AIDS, inclusive development, and, increasingly, climate justice. Nur is known for designing evaluations that are methodologically rigorous while remaining politically grounded and centred on the perspectives of communities and civil society. She specialises in participatory and learning-oriented methods, including Most Significant Change, Outcome Harvesting, Photovoice, and Participatory Video. Nur currently works as an independent consultant and advisor across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia.
Susan Bergson, MPH is a senior evaluator and Lead Consultant at Impact Journey Collective, with over 20 years of experience spanning feminist and equity-centred monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL), global health, climate, and gender equality. Her work bridges rigorous evidence generation with participatory and justice-oriented approaches, prioritising lived experience, power analysis, and systems change. Susan has led complex, multi-country evaluations and learning processes for multilateral agencies, governments, foundations, social enterprises, and civil society organisations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. She brings deep expertise in feminist and gender-transformative evaluation, story-based and qualitative methods (including Most Significant Change), and the ethical use of data in sensitive and politically complex contexts. Susan is particularly interested in how evaluation can function not only as a tool for accountability, but as an active mechanism for redistribution of voice, influence, and decision-making power.
Yulye Jessica Romo Ramos (Director & Principal Consultant, Nexus Evaluation and Co-lead of TWG 1). A seasoned leader with 15 years of expertise in strategy design, organisational development and change, evaluation, research, and learning. Recognized for her equitable, diverse, and inclusive approaches. Jessica integrates these principles with systems thinking and innovative methods to formulate strategies and to evaluate and learn from social innovations, large investments, and development programs. She prefers a relational and partnership-focused approach to her work. By understanding specific needs, contexts, and challenges, Jessica develops innovative approaches and services that create real and lasting impact.