What does this mean for evaluators and those who commission evaluation? Does it reflect a legitimate concern with the productivity and efficiency of programme, as well as the capacity to secure gains and improvements against value for money objectives? Or, is this managerialism at the expense of process - an over emphasis on how results are achieved without due concern for the context and the values and ambitions of stakeholders?

There are other considerations too: how to capture secondary effects and 'unintended benefits' of programmes? Who stands to gain - the end user, individual, institution or the commissioner of evaluations? And, what counts as a worthwhile result given that not all programme achievements can be measured?

Against this background, conference participants are invited to contribute their own perspectives on the dominant issues they consider relevant to the theory and practice of evaluation. We anticipate a lively and informative debate to stimulate professional learning and to contribute to the improvement of evaluation practice and commissioning.

Potential contributors are invited to propose discussions, seminar presentations, lectures or poster sessions which explore issues around this theme. We welcome contributions from a wide range of sectors and backgrounds - social, economic, health, development, etc. from government, civil society and the private sector. Contributions may fall within one of the following categories - though you are invited to propose your own theme:

• How do we define a valid 'result' and whose results get counted?
• How do we best measure a result - including taking account of counterfactuals?
• How do we understand where results came from, what significance they have and whether they can be replicated - ie what is the relation between a result and context?
• Where do benchmarks come from to measure results achievement?
• If a result is, say, a 4% improvement - how do we know whether that is a lot or a little under the circumstances?
• How do we represent the contexts and methods that give rise to a result?
• How do we account in whatever sector for programme accomplishments that are not represented in results?
• Is results-measurement a robust foundation for replication/extension of a programme?

The conference will be preceded on 15 March 2012 by a series of workshops organised in partnership with other related agencies. Full details will be available shortly. A pre-conference reception and dinner will be held on the evening of that day. The conference will take place from 09.00 - 16.45 on 16 March 2012.

Jonathan Portes, Director, National Institute of Economic and Social Research has now been confirmed as the opening keynote speaker at the 2012 Annual Evaluation Conference.

His presentation will be followed by an interactive discussion led by David Walker, Contributing Editor, Public Leaders Network, The Guardian (formerly Director of Public Reporting, The Audit Commission).

The afternoon session will commence with a keynote presentation by Mike Daly, Analysis Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions and Dr Gemma Harper, Chief Social Researcher, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who will provide an update on the Magenta Book.
The full programme will be available shortly.

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