Holding uncertainty: An evaluator’s thoughts on navigating shaky times

As a psychologist, social worker, and evaluator, I know that our field has always lived in spaces of tension. I’ve written about them and grappled with them. Tension exists between rigor and practicality, between our partners’ needs and funding realities, between what should be and what often is. Now, we are feeling that tension more than ever. The organizations we support are facing possible instability, the funding landscape is shifting unpredictably, and the federal government seems to offer nothing but turmoil and chaos. 

As consultants and evaluators in these times, it can feel like we constantly need to be justifying our existence. Yet, we know that evaluation, learning, accountability, documentation, and all the things we do are essential, perhaps now more than ever, to seeing, and also envisioning, the bigger picture. 

How, then, do we navigate the uncertainty, the anticipatory grief, the fear, and emotional exhaustion? How do we sustain ourselves, our teams, and our work when we don't know what comes next? I’ve been reflecting on these questions and while I certainly don’t have a cure for this, I’ve found certain affirmations helpful to ground myself in what I know to be true, and to release myself from things I can’t control. Here are a handful  of affirmations I have been reflecting on in my meditative time: 

• Your work has value: Evaluation helps organizations stay accountable, learn, and adapt, especially in times of crisis. Even when resources are tight, the insights you provide remain critical. 

• You are not alone: Many in our field are grappling with the same questions, fears, and tensions. Making space to address the elephant in the room and commiserate in community is necessary and so helpful.

• You don’t have all the answers…Sway:  Being an evaluator doesn't mean we must predict the future. It means we help make sense of the present. 

• Taking care of yourself is taking care of the work:  Burnout doesn't serve justice, equity, or accountability. The current environment presents a threat to folks at all levels, so taking rest is vital.

Keeping the work alive

In addition to keeping ourselves grounded, there is the reality of funding changes and constraints that can make it feel impossible to keep evaluation on the table. Here are some thoughts on ways to continue to make it feasible: 

• Support partners with prioritizing: If full-scale evaluation isn't possible, what are the essential elements they can still track? Can they shift to lighter-touch approaches or find alternative funding sources?

• Broaden the resource pool where possible: Explore philanthropic funding, pooled resources across organizations, or academic partnerships that can sustain pieces of the work.

• Lean into community: Fellow evaluators can provide mutual aid, share resources, work, and ideas. Reach out to peers for support and validation.

• Lean into values-backed work:  This feels like a great moment to reaffirm our commitment to equity in learning. This could look like prioritizing work that serves vulnerable communities, even if it means shifting your approach.

• Know when to step back: Not every contract can be saved. Trust that letting go of unsustainable work creates space for new opportunities.

These times demand a lot from us: flexibility, courage, care for ourselves, for our work, and for the communities we serve. As evaluators, we know that learning is an ongoing process and the space we find ourselves in is an opportunity for reflection, adaptation, and growth for all of us. Together, we can find ways to sustain ourselves, support our partners, and lift up the values that brought us to this work in the first place! 

Stay grounded, my friends.

Ramona