Michaela Raab

I facilitate (and do) evaluation.

In more than three decades in international cooperation, I have worked at all angles of the evaluation triangle/ diamond/ octogon/ buckminsterfullerene (the latter a football-like shape made of hexagons and pentagons – many angles, when things are complicated).

This rich experience – combined with research about evaluation, and continuous exchange with colleagues, has made me passionate about facilitating evaluation. As an evaluation facilitator, I help creating good conditions for evaluations that serve a clear purpose – from the concept phase to the management response.

Get in touch here if you wish to find out more!

News

For Berlin residents: monthly evaluation meetup - 24 March and 23 April2026

*So far, the meetings have been in German – hence an announcement in German

Der Berliner Evaluationsstammtisch (BEST) läuft seit Mitte 2023; inzwischen sind es über 70 Menschen im Verteiler, die Evaluationen durchführen, in Auftrag geben, oder einfach daran interessiert sind. Wir treffen uns mehrmals im Jahr, an wechselnden Wochentagen und Orten, jeweils um 18:30. Es ist ein offener Kreis; meist sitzen um die zehn Leute um den Tisch. Jeden Monat gibt es ein anderes Gesprächsthema, oft mit einem kurzen oder längeren fachlichen Input. Neulich ließen wir uns sogar von Ansatz des Forum-Theaters inspirieren, um über den Umgang mit unrealistischen Anforderungen nachzudenken.

Unsere nächsten Treffen 2026 sind am 24. März in Kreuzberg (Milagro im Bergmannkiez) und am 23. April in Neukölln (Global Village). Wer teilnehmen oder etwas teilen möchte, melde sich gern über mein Kontaktformular! Im Mai machen wir Pause; im Sommer vielleicht einen Ausflug. Updates gibt es auf der LinkedIn-Seite des BEST.

Near-silence after near-20 years of blogging

Those who have followed my blogs – the one on this site and my old blog developblog.org (initiated back in 2007) may have noticed a steep decline in my blogging activities.

The main reason is that nowadays, I bring my insights and worries and stray thoughts to real life meetings – mainly the Berlin evaluation meetup (which I kicked off in mid-2023). Also, running my own website or blog is much less important nowadays, with LinkedIn playing an increasing role. LinkedIn has become a less inspiring place, though, with all the AI-generated slush… I might be back on my own blog soon!

Services

Evaluation facilitation

Support in planning, preparing, carrying out, and using evaluations that serve their purpose: A service for organisations and people who commission, manage, design, implement, analyse, review, synthetise, use and live evaluations.

Evaluation and synthesis

Assessing the merit of projects, project portfolios and the work of organisations around the world, with a commitment to methodological fit and innovation. Available in several languages and across diverse contexts – on-site, remotely and in hybrid, diverse teams.

PMEL clinic

Support in strengthening planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning (PMEL) processes and structures with advice, coaching and training – as well as punctual troubleshooting.

Facilitation

Design and accompaniment of processes, participatory workshops and larger consultations in real life and online/hybrid settings, using bespoke tools, in complex contexts and across multiple languages.

Quality assurance & meta-evaluation

Support (i) to on-going evaluations so that they can be robust and useful, and (ii) to learning from evaluations and their strengths and weaknesses for methodological advancement.

Gender & equity mainstreaming

Support to strategies, planning, monitoring systems and evaluations that strengthen gender equality and equity and that avoid causing harm.