Application for Summer School for Young & Emerging Evaluators
Understanding and Conducting Policy Evaluation
Dates: June 29 – July 4, 2026
Venue: Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, BMCC Road, Pune – 411004
Organised by: Evaluation Community of India, EvalYouth India, and Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune
Apply Now: Click Here
This week‑long residential Summer School equips young and emerging evaluators with the conceptual foundations, analytical skills, and practical tools needed to understand, design, and communicate policy evaluations. India’s evolving development landscape and growing demand for MEL professionals make such training essential. The programme is jointly organised by ECOI, EvalYouth India, and GIPE.
Importance of Policy Evaluation
- Core step in the policy cycle
- Improves policy outcomes
- Navigating complex socio‑ecological systems
- Rising demand for MEL professionals (CSR, SSE, Govt Programmes)
- Need for independent, scientific evaluation
Learning Goal
To equip students with conceptual foundations, analytical skills, and practical tools to understand, design, and communicate policy evaluations.
Selection criteria
- Eligibility: Completed bachelor’s degree
- Priority will be given to students of public policy, development studies, and social sciences
- Early‑career practitioners are also welcome
- Selection will be done based on the application form details provided, and shortlisted participants will receive a link for fee payment to confirm their participation.
Programme Highlights
- Offline, immersive learning at GIPE
- Interactive lectures, hands‑on practice, case studies
- Group assignments and presentations
- Exposure to leading evaluation practitioners
- Certificate from GIPE and ECOI
Program Schedule & Speakers List:
| Day | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| 1000 to 1200 | Inauguration Public Policy Cycle – Ambrish Bombade | Predicting and measuring change (Theory of Change, Log Frame, and Indicators) – Prof Shyam Singh | Conducting Evaluations – Ms. Manasi Phadake | Designing Surveys and Quality measures – Aparna Krishnan | Communicating Evaluations – Richa Dhir/ Lady Irwin College | Group Presentations + Closing Ceremony |
| 1300 to 1500 | Introduction to Evaluation+ assigning group work – Dr Yatin Diwakar | Evidence Based Policy Making and Impact Evaluation through mixed approaches – Prof Shyam Singh | Qualitative Approaches to Evaluation – Dr Nitin Lokhande | App based data collection – Maulik Chavan | Gender transformative Evaluation – Dr Jahnvi Andhariya | |
| 1530 to 1730 | Systems Thinking and Sustainability perspectives for Policy Evaluation – Kalyan Tanksale | Monitoring of Systems Change – Akash Patki | Data-driven Policy Evaluation (Quantitative Approaches to evaluation) – Prof Pradeep Apte | AI-based Data Analysis – Arshee Rizvi | Ethics and Norms in Evaluation + Evaluation Ecosystem and Career in Evaluation – Dr Yatin Diwakar |
Facilitators*
- Ambrish Bombade, Assistant Professor Public Policy, GIPE
- Dr Yatin Diwakar, coordinator APEA
- Kalyan Tanksale, Founder, Pranali Initiatives
- Prof Shyam Singh, IRMA, Tribhuvan Sahkari University
- Akash Patki – Sr Manager, MEL, Lend A Hand India
- Ms. Manasi Phadake – Consultant, World Bank
- Prof Pradeep Apte, GIPE
- Dr Nitin Lokhande, Sr Manager Research, Sambodhi
- Maulik Chauhan, Founder, Trestle Research
- Aparna Krishnan, Sr Advisor, JPAL
- Arshee Rizvi – AL&ML lead at Development Intelligence Unit
- Richa Dhir, Assistant Professor, Dept of Development Communication, Lady Irwin College
- Dr Jahnvi Andhariya, Director, Institute of Social Studies Trust
Fees
- Programme Fee: ₹7,000 + GST per student (Rate for professionals will be conveyed separately)
- For Working Professionals Rs 14000+ GST per person (For working professionals: Accommodation will not be provided by the institute)
- Fee includes Hostel accommodation for students, and meals (breakfast, tea, lunch, snacks).
- Participants have to plan their own travel.
Timeline
- Deadline for applications – 20th May 2026
- Notification timeline – 28th May 2026
Contact Information
- Email ID (GIPE official)
- Phone number (if applicable)
ECOI website Home – ECOI
