In this powerful start‑of‑year episode of the Monitoring and Evaluation Boost Podcast, host Godfrey Senkaba tackles one of the biggest challenges evaluators face - not in their projects, but in their own careers.

Every January, evaluators set goals. But by December, many feel frustrated, stuck, or disappointed. Yet these are the same professionals who expertly design results frameworks, track indicators, support learning, and help programs adapt. So why do we struggle to apply the same discipline to ourselves?

In this episode, Godfrey flips the script.

Instead of setting goals, he challenges you to set accomplishments - clear, meaningful, end‑of‑year outcomes that help you shape the evaluator you want to become.

You’ll discover:

• Why most professional goals fail
• How to use the evaluator’s natural advantage—results thinking—to shape your own growth
• The difference between professional development and career development
• How to visualize your December “accomplished self”
• A 5‑step framework for defining and achieving your yearly accomplishments
• Real stories of evaluators who transformed their careers through intentional action
• Encouragement, strategies, and practical tools to start your journey now

Whether you're a new, emerging, or seasoned MEL professional, this episode equips you with the mindset and methods to take charge of your career—on your terms.

👍 If you’re ready to grow, stretch, and become a more confident and capable evaluator by December, this episode is your starting point.

Connect with Godfrey Senkaba:

Website: https://www.mandeboost.com

Email: info@mandeboost.com

X: https://x.com/senkaba_g

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/godfrey-senkaba-32452428/

Support the show

Godfrey Senkaba, M&E Boost Podcast.

In this second part of my reflections from the 2025 American Evaluation Association (AEA) Conference, I continue exploring what this year’s gathering revealed about the evolving role of evaluation—and what it means for us as practitioners.

Building on the themes from Part 1, this episode goes deeper into the practice of evaluation. I reflect on sessions that focused on writing strong evaluation plans, understanding the true cost of programs through cost-inclusive evaluation, and using emerging tools—like AI—to strengthen, rather than replace, human judgment.

I also share insights from poster sessions, conversations with fellow evaluators, and moments that reminded me why professional community matters—especially in a time of uncertainty and transition for the field.

In this episode, you’ll hear reflections on:

• What makes an evaluation plan strong, credible, and fundable
• How cost and value can be better integrated into evaluation practice
• Why internal evaluators play a critical role in shaping meaningful evaluations
• How accessible and ethical uses of AI can support—not replace—evaluation work
• The importance of professional community, mentorship, and shared learning

This episode is both a continuation and a deepening of the conversation started in Part 1—inviting us to think not only about what we evaluate, but how and why we do it.

🎧 If you’re navigating complexity in your evaluation work and looking for grounded, practical reflection, this episode is for you.

Connect with Godfrey Senkaba:

Website: https://www.mandeboost.com

Email: info@mandeboost.com

Twitter: https://x.com/senkaba_g

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/godfrey-senkaba-32452428/

Support the show

Godfrey Senkaba, M&E Boost Podcast.

2025 has been a difficult year for many evaluators - especially those working in international development. Funding cuts, uncertainty, and shrinking scopes of work have forced many of us to pause and reflect on where our profession is headed.

In this episode of the Monitoring and Evaluation Boost Podcast, I share reflections from the 2025 American Evaluation Association (AEA) Conference in Kansas City, themed “Engaging Community, Sharing Leadership.”

This is Part 1 of a two-part series, focused on grounding ourselves in the fundamentals while stretching our thinking for what lies ahead.

In this episode, I explore:

• Why professional evaluation associations matter now more than ever
• How the AEA conference felt in the middle of a challenging year for evaluators
• Key insights from the opening plenary on bridging evaluation and foresight
• Practical lessons from a workshop on Theory of Change–based M&E planning

This episode is for evaluators, program leaders, and anyone interested in how evidence, learning, and reflection can help us navigate uncertainty—without losing our footing.

🎧 Part 2 will dive into grant evaluation plans, cost-inclusive evaluation, AI for evaluation, leadership, and the future of our field.

Connect with Godfrey Senkaba:

Website: https://www.mandeboost.com

Email: info@mandeboost.com

Twitter: https://x.com/senkaba_g

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/godfrey-senkaba-32452428/

Godfrey Senkaba, M&E Boost Podcast.