Evaluating politicians and governments often means looking at performance indicators, policy outputs and outcomes. These measures are important, but do they tell us the whole story? Political commitment, intentions and the willingness to pursue specific objectives may not be fully captured by results alone. At the same time, declarations of intent are not enough to demonstrate genuine political will: commitment needs to be examined through concrete actions, their feasibility and continuity, and the involvement of relevant stakeholders.

This presentation will introduce a conceptual framework and an assessment model developed through research co-authored with Prof. Alessandro Spano at the University of Cagliari, Italy, to evaluate political will in Italian regional governments. Drawing on a review of the literature and a discussion with the board of directors of a trade association, the model identifies observable actions through which political will can be assessed, including legislative initiatives, non-legislative initiatives, and inspection and advisory activities. These actions are examined using criteria such as relevance, feasibility, timing, continuity, stage of advancement and stakeholder involvement.

The presentation will explore how this approach can complement traditional government evaluation by providing a more structured way to examine political commitment alongside performance indicators and policy outcomes. Particular attention is given to the role of stakeholder participation in assessing whether political actions respond to relevant needs and involve the groups affected by public decisions.

Please note that this webinar will be presented in English only.

Sonia Cocco

Sonia Cocco is a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer in Public Management and Business Administration at the University of Cagliari, Italy. Her research interests include information use in the public sector, evidence-based policymaking, governments evaluation, organizational change and digital transformation in public administration.

She holds a Ph.D. in Business and Economics from the University of Cagliari, where her doctoral research examined how information is used in the public sector and how its effective use can be enhanced. Her research on information use by regional politicians has been published in the international peer-reviewed journals Meditari Accountancy Research, Public Money & Management and the International Journal of Public Sector Management.

She has presented her work at several international conferences, including the International Research Society for Public Management Conference, the International Institute of Administrative Sciences–Euromena Conference and the Bielefeld International Conference on Applied Business. She has also contributed to specialist research workshops, including the European Group for Public Administration XII Spring Workshop.

In addition to her research activities, she serves on the Editorial Management Board of International Public Management Review and reviews manuscripts for several international academic journals.

The CES-NCC virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Thursday November 26, 2026 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm on Zoom.

AGM Agenda

• Introduction and Welcoming Remarks

• President’s Report

• Treasurer’s Report

The following documents are for the consideration of members and will require approval at the AGM.

• CES-NCC President’s Report for 2025-26 (to come)

• CES-NCC Treasurer’s Report for 2025-26 (to come)

• CES NCC 2025 AGM Minutes

• CES NCC 2025-26 Audited Financial Statements

We appreciate how busy everyone is, so for members who attend the AGM (we’re hoping to keep it to 15-20 minutes) we’re including an exclusive presentation with Sylvie Geauvreau and Amal Elmi from Carleton University’s Graduate Diploma in Public Policy and Program Evaluation on their project exploring how a community-based organization creates a welcoming community for refugee claimants while addressing operational challenges. Scroll down for more information on the presentation.

As this is an AGM, the event is exclusive to CES-NCC members. Advanced registration is required. As our Constitution require quorum at the start of the meeting, we are unfortunately unable to accept late admissions.

Thank you for your ongoing participation in your local evaluation community. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Do you need to renew your CES Membership? Do you want to join CES? Head over to the CES National website (evaluationcanada.ca) for all of the information to need to join/renew.

We are excited to announce that the next Annual Learning Event (ALE) will be held on Wednesday, February 17, 2027, at the University of Ottawa.

The 2027 Annual Learning Event (ALE), hosted by the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES) National Capital Chapter (NCC) is our flagship gathering, bringing together practitioners, scholars, and leaders in our professional community for a dynamic exchange of knowledge and ideas. If you’re looking to make an impact on your career, this is the event for you!

Join us on February 17 for the 2027 CES-NCC Annual Learning Event, where evaluation professionals will explore Maintaining Your Edge: Keeping Pace with Change. As misinformation spreads, trust in expertise shifts, and AI advances faster than safeguards, policies, and regulations, this event will offer timely learning, practical insights, and meaningful discussion to help evaluators stay informed, adaptable, and effective.

Be part of a welcoming and inclusive learning environment that reflects the richness and multidisciplinary nature of evaluation. More than a series of presentations, the 2027 CES-NCC ALE will bring evaluation professionals together to exchange ideas, learn from experience, challenge conventional practices, and build lasting connections.

Save the date and secure your seat for the 2027 CES-NCC ALE. Registration rates are available for you to start your approval planning.

We look forward to connecting with you on February 17!