Future of policy evaluation in the Global South

This chapter examines the future of public policy evaluation in the Global South, synthesizing insights from various countries and regions. It identifies twelve key trends shaping evaluation practices, including technological innovation, social participation, and alignment with global development agendas. Using scenario planning methodology, the chapter explores how these trends might unfold across diverse political contexts, including democracies, authoritarian regimes, and military governments. Five scenarios are presented: Technological Divide, Participatory Paradox, Ethical Tightrope, Adaptive Resilience, and Glocalized Evaluation. These scenarios illustrate the complex interplay between global evaluation trends and local political realities. The chapter concludes that while significant obstacles remain, there is potential for innovative, context-specific evaluation approaches to emerge from the Global South, contributing to improved policy effectiveness and sustainable development. However, realizing this potential requires navigating complex political dynamics and balancing global standards with local relevance.