30th January 2019
CECAN Ltd is pleased to be working with Defra to develop a Complexity Evaluation Framework that will equip Defra commissioners of evaluation with a checklist of core considerations to ensure that policy evaluations sufficiently consider the implications of complexity theory. A long-term CECAN partner, Defra is one of a number of organisations that has collaborated with CECAN Ltd to give further consideration to embedding complexity thinking into evaluation. Defra is seeking to ensure that evaluations adequately account for uncertain contexts, behaviours, intersectionalities and adaptions which may affect implementation of policies across its remit (which includes the environment, food, farming, fishing and rural affairs). The Complexity Evaluation Framework will provide an actionable toolkit for evaluation commissioners to deliver insights. This will lead to evaluations that both demonstrate the impact and value for money of new policies and also enable rapid feedback to allow for adaptive implementation of policy in changing and uncertain contexts.