Evaluation of GEPs Through Participatory and Developmental Approaches: Insights from Southeast Europe

Based on SEE-ERA, a European project implemented in Southeast Europe, we explore the challenges of evaluating gender structural change in RPOs and RFOs within complex contexts. We examine what is evaluated, how it is evaluated, the criteria employed, and the ToCs underpinning GEPs. Particular attention is given to how evaluation captures the complexity of local institutional and national contexts in Southeast European countries while maintaining rigor, inclusivity, and an intersectional perspective. SEE-ERA adopts a participatory developmental evaluation approach to support the implementation and sustainability of inclusive GEPs across 7 Southeast European institutions. Recognising that GEPs are embedded in multifaceted, non-linear systems, the project integrates a complexity lens, emphasising context-sensitivity, reflexivity, and a gender+ approach. The project recognises the complex interrelations between actors and conditions that produce impacts, which should be reflected in evaluation approaches and methodologies. Establishing systems to monitor and evaluate change throughout the implementation lifecycle provides valuable data to manage unforeseen and emerging issues. A central dimension of SEE-ERA concerns the relationship between mentoring and evaluation. As mentors serve simultaneously as guides and evaluators, this dual role can both facilitate and hinder effective evaluation. Close mentoring relationships may enhance trust, enabling more accurate reporting and deeper institutional learning, yet they may also blur boundaries, potentially limiting critical distance. The project further recognises the particularities of evaluation in Southeast European research systems, where evaluation cultures and infrastructures may be underdeveloped. Given that evaluation can be perceived with distrust in contexts with limited or recent exposure to evaluative practices, SEE-ERA adopts co-creating approaches aimed at reducing concerns, and reframing evaluation as supportive. Evaluation in SEE-ERA is both formative and summative, supporting continuous reflection, organisational learning, and evidence-based decision-making. Local evaluation units are established at mentee institutions, enabling iterative monitoring, feedback, and co-creation of tailored evaluation frameworks. Regular monitoring, workshops, and on-site visits facilitate real-time adjustments to strengthen impact.