Integrating theory and research on structural racism and social justice into evaluator preparation

Abstract

This chapter discusses the relevance and role of structural racism and equity, critical race theory, and social justice perspectives in evaluation. We also suggest opportunities for formally educating the next generation of evaluators about ways to identify and address these topics in practice. One of the ways our field can remediate a long history of relegating the importance of these topics is by revamping evaluator training with expanded pedagogy that includes self-reflection about positionality, and experiential activities aimed at cultivating evaluators who are better equipped to address pressing justice, disparity, and social and public health issues in contemporary global evaluation practice.