Sometimes in depth. Sometimes briefly.
Occasionally just something I could not resist.
My professional home is transformation and evaluation, and before that the scientific research leadership that shaped my early career.
As South African and global citizen I am insatiably curious about how the world actually works, what the future might look like, and what is worth being and doing so that we can live well in it.
I also care deeply about the non-human world of which we are part. Here I share what catches my attention, challenges me, or simply seems worth thinking about.
In this liminal time between the “no longer” and the “not yet”, old certainties are weakening while what comes next remains unsettled. I look across societies, worldviews, ideas and assumptions — about what is breaking down, but especially at what may be emerging, and where there are grounds for hope and optimism.
My specialist field. Transformative development, foresight, and evaluation reimagined for this turbulent era. The big questions and the practice of steering towards a regenerative future. Evaluation as an essential practice for societies who are remaking their systems, and who cannot afford to lie to themselves about how it is going.
Short pieces. Something I read, something I noticed, something that made me laugh or stopped me short. No argument to defend, no conclusion to reach; sometimes just the thing itself.
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Building on Part 1, this post explores what lies beyond a single universal model of human rights. Drawing on diverse cultural traditions and philosophical systems, it makes the case for pluralistic approaches that honour different ways of understanding dignity and justice.
What if ‘universal human rights’ are not actually universal, but a cleverly packaged Western export that has sometimes done more harm than good? This post challenges conventional thinking and argues for embracing multiple frameworks to strengthen human dignity worldwide.
A beautiful Norwegian coastal town transforms into a giant open-air democracy festival. What Arendalsuka reveals about the power of inclusive, place-based democratic engagement – and what evaluation professionals can learn from it.
This post reflects on what it truly means to modernise development, and flourish on our own terms in the Global South – honouring heritage while embracing innovation, without imitating Western models.
Sam Buckton distils insights from his pioneering PhD research on transformation-focused evaluation. Based on a systematic review of the literature, he maps 12 principles that show how the evaluation field is advancing with the demands of transformative change in complex systems.
Three eminent transformation specialists – Sandra Waddock, Petra Kuenkel and Steve Waddell – present ten principles for transforming economics. A powerful argument for moving beyond extractive models towards regenerative economic systems that serve people and planet.
Why do we still tolerate the terminology of ‘Developed’ and ‘Developing’ countries? Words create images and dominant narratives that insidiously shape how we think. A brief reflection on how language reinforces power imbalances in global development.
Selected frameworks, concepts and practical instruments that I have developed over the years, through my work on evaluation, transformation and systems change — sometimes on my own, and sometimes with others.
From time to time, I invite colleagues, friends and people whose thinking and work I value — including Young and Emerging Evaluators — to write here in their own words.
