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Positionality in Made in African Evaluation

Race, Geography, and Epistemology

Bibliographic Data

ID21653153
AuthorsJoana Apostolo (Sustainable Agricultural Network, Lisbon, Portugal), Schlain Bhayla (University of Antwerp), Caitlin Blaser Mapitsa (0000-0002-8189-8451, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, corresponding author), Japheth Chanda (National Assembly of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia), Mercy Fanadzo (Centre for Learning on Evaluation and Results), Linda Khumalo (0000-0002-0597-7342, University of Antwerp), Liveson Manguwo (Oxfam South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa), Candice Morkel (0000-0002-4188-9526, IPDET, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland), Seirah Ngcobo (Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Pretoria, South Africa), Mokgophana Ramasobana (0000-0002-9131-8684, Tiyimele Consultants, Johannesburg, South Africa), Jamie Robertsen (Well Done Data, Johannesburg, South Africa), Francois Mbiere Sakata (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg)
Year2026
Publication date2026-07-08
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Evaluation (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1098-2140 • E-ISSN: 1557-0878
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/10982140261466233
OpenAlexW7167739422
LanguageEN
References cited18

Made in Africa evaluation has grown to shape the trajectory of evaluation in the region. However, empirical studies on the backgrounds of evaluators in Africa have illustrated the complex relationship between identity and geography. “Being African” takes on an important meaning in a context where local evaluation skills are often marginalized, but “local” identities have historically been displaced and disrupted. The authors of this manuscript all carry some identity as African evaluators, but represent a broad spectrum of races, geographic bases, cultural history, and invisible backgrounds and identities. At the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association, they came together during the Made in Africa stream to share how their positionality within and outside of the evaluation space shapes their work, and how, in aggregate, identity and transformation come together. Our experience points to a need for rigorous interrogation of the complex relationship between identity, lived experience, and values in evaluation

Empirical research · Interrogation · Qualitative research · Community Health and Development · Evaluation and Performance Assessment · Public Policy and Administration Research

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  • The cognitive empire, politics of knowledge and African intellectual productions

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  • Local and Transnational Identity, Positionality and Knowledge Production in Africa and the African Diaspora

    Open Access•Kudus Oluwatoyin Adebayo, E T Njoku•CAM•2023

Citation velocityhistorical
Highly citedNo
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