In the last century, human-led activities have drastically altered natural systems. The environmental impacts of human activity are so deleterious to living species and our biosphere that geologists have named this new geological era the Anthropocene, from anthropos, human being. Responses to the Anthropocene era call for drastic changes in all domains of activity. As evaluators, we claim to work for social betterment. We have a responsibility to adapt our approaches and practices to respond to this environmental challenge. The aim of this article is to raise awareness on the need to develop new approaches for evaluators in the Anthropocene. We first describe what this state of urgency represents for humans, the international commitments to take action, the solutions that exist, and what responding to this environmental challenge means for our profession.

We are currently being challenged to urgently address the environmental crisis. Intervening in this complex ecology creates the need to adopt approaches that will reconcile natural and human systems, approaches for Planetary Health. In this article, we present a Planetary Health Framework as a conceptual dialogic approach for designing and evaluating interventions. Natural and human systems dimensions have been conceptualized in an integrated way, based on existing scientific knowledge. This framework is intended to be applied using a dialogic approach. We will also show, schematically, how the use of this approach can be overlaid on each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The overall aim of this article is to contribute to a transformation in our field, to expand our role from existing narrowly focused evaluation practices to taking into account in our work, how interventions do or do not make a contribution to building a better future for all.

This article explores parallels between the recent emergence of Behavioural Insights (BI) as an applied public policy-related field and the first years of the evaluation field (dating back to the 1960s). We identify four developments in the evaluation field and implications relevant for BI. We then identify three challenges that lie ahead for BI, with the most significant involving professionalizing BI practice. We identify several advantages to professionalization, one being an improved capacity to speak truth to power. The evaluation field, globally, is exploring steps to professionalize practice, but given the continued emergence of competing approaches, in theory and practice, it is an open question whether professionalization can be successful. Understanding challenges in the evaluation field can inform BI efforts to professionalize as a regular contributor to government assessment and improvement of policies and programs.Sommaire : Cet article étudie les parallèles entre l'émergence récente des Perspectives comportementales (Behavioral Insights ou BI) en tant que domaine d'application des politiques publiques et les premières années du domaine de l'évaluation (qui remontent aux années 1960). Nous identifions quatre développements dans le domaine de l'évaluation et leurs répercussions pertinentes pour les BI. Ensuite, nous déterminons trois défis qui se profilent pour les BI, le plus important impliquant la professionnalisation de la pratique des BI. Nous distinguons plusieurs avantages à la professionnalisation, l'un étant une capacité accrue de dire la vérité aux autorités. Le domaine de l'évaluation, à l'échelle mondiale, explore les étapes de la professionnalisation de la pratique, mais étant donné l'émergence continue d'approches concurrentes, en théorie comme en pratique, la question de savoir si la professionnalisation peut réussir reste ouverte. La compréhension des défis dans le domaine de l'évaluation peut éclairer les efforts des BI pour se professionnaliser et contribuer régulièrement à l'évaluation gouvernementale et à l'amélioration des politiques et des programmes.

The current existential crises crystallize an urgent need for us all to contribute to meeting international environmental and social commitments. The message is clear: we need to take action. However, one of the challenges for decision-makers leading the transition is the dearth of practical tools and approaches available. Even in our field, evaluations are still based on practices which systematically overlook important determinants of human health, neglecting what matters most for our societies to thrive. This article aims to build on existing knowledge of program theories, theories of change, and theory-based evaluations to create a practical approach to designing interventions, while taking into account human and natural systems: what is referred to as evaluating for Planetary Health. A key purpose is to explore how we can conceptualize and elaborate interventions, taking into account their implications for Planetary Health, to suggest improvements or alternatives to existing programs, projects, or policies.

The CES membership database was analyzed in order to determine the socio-demographic profile that best defines Credentialed Evaluators (CE). In general, those currently holding CE status tend to: be employed in the private sector; have a PhD level education; have long-term experience in evaluation; have a major focus on evaluation within their professional activities; and be located within the Atlantic region, Western Canada, or the National Capital Chapter region.  Implications of these trends for the sustainability of the CE designation program and options for broadening the scope of uptake within the CES membership are discussed.