Towards the end of last year, we took a step back to reflect on how the evaluation sector has evolved. At TSIC, our recent tender research project set out to explore the approaches, methodologies, and subject matter expertise most commonly sought by evaluation commissioners and discussed at major European and international evaluation conferences. We wanted to understand where demand is heading, while defining how we can advocate for a better evaluation sector.

From a review of over 60 Invitations to Tender (ITTs) within the UK (also known as ‘Requests for Proposals’) in 2024, as well as insights gleaned from several recent evaluation conferences around the world, we identified a number of trends and gaps. Some topics that have garnered significant attention amongst evaluators – such as systems change, equity-centred approaches, and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) – were interestingly less visible in the tenders we reviewed. Below, we share some of our key findings and reflections on what this might mean for the future of evaluation.

Systems Change and Lived Experience: Where Are They?

Despite the increasing emphasis on systems change and the importance of including lived experience in the evaluation sector, we were struck by how rarely these concepts featured in the ITTs. In discussions across the social impact sector, these have become almost standard considerations – yet this demand does not appear to have filtered down strongly into tenders. While we believe systems change and lived experience can add depth to evaluation and advance equity, we are yet to see many clients explicitly request these capabilities.

AI in Evaluation: All Talk, Less Action (So Far)

AI was a hot topic at the evaluation conferences internationally, highlighted as a potentially transformative tool to improve efficiency, accuracy, and insight. Its proposed uses ranged from enhancing standardised methods like Outcome Harvesting to new ways of gathering and interpreting data. However, this interest in AI was not reflected in the ITTs we analysed; none of the reviewed tenders explicitly asked for AI expertise. It appears that while evaluators and researchers are keen to explore AI’s possibilities, many clients are yet to follow suit – or may not know how to support the ethical use of AI.

Methodological Themes from Recent Conferences

The conferences we attended revealed a number of trending methodologies and topical focuses:

• AI in Evaluation: Conferences showcased AI’s potential to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and insight in evaluation practices, with discussions ranging from refining standardised methods to developing innovative data analysis approaches. Despite being at an early stage of client uptake, interest remains high among evaluators. However, this enthusiasm has yet to be reflected in client tenders.
• Foresight Evaluation: Foresight and futures thinking featured prominently in conference discussions, highlighting their value in preparing organisations for emerging challenges. While these approaches are gaining traction in professional discourse, demand within ITTs remains limited, suggesting they are still in the early stages of client adoption.
• Equity-Centred Evaluation: While lived experience was not a significant focus in ITTs, equity-centred evaluation has gained traction across both conferences and tender requests. Approaches such as feminist and participatory evaluation are increasingly recognised for promoting inclusivity and fairness.
• Thematic and Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Conferences highlighted the value of thematic evaluation, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration to address complex social issues. Key themes included: youth participation, migration and displacement, human rights, health, and climate action—which continues to gain urgency as a critical area of focus. This reflects a growing recognition of the need for integrated, cross-sectoral approaches to tackle interconnected global challenges.

Reflections and Looking Ahead

Our tender research has yielded valuable insights. While certain hot topics in evaluation methodology and subject matter expertise are very much ‘in the air’, they are yet to materialise strongly in client requests. This lag may reflect the natural pace of change, as organisations take time to assess new approaches before embedding them into their formal procurement processes. It could also suggest opportunities for evaluators to proactively introduce and guide clients towards emerging innovations – helping them understand the benefits of AI, or the importance of systems change, foresight and lived experience, for example.

These insights inform how we at TSIC shape our offerings and also highlight the need for ongoing dialogue between evaluators, clients, and the communities we serve. We remain committed to advocating for innovative and impactful approaches that can help advance equity in the ever-changing society. Find our more about our flagship methodologies here.

We’d Love to Hear from You

These findings represent one snapshot in time, and we know the field will continue to evolve. If you have thoughts on any of these themes or would like to discuss how TSIC can support your evaluation needs, please feel free to reach out at [email protected].

The research was conducted by TSIC analysts, Folu Ogunyeye and Sophia-Haya Bohkari.