Join us on the session to explore how decision-makers can break free from this cycle, using evaluation and other evidence to guide policy and budget decisions by showcasing real-world case studies and examples where evidence has successfully guided public health decisions, as well as the challenges faced in institutionalizing evaluation. Experts will discuss the role of data and evaluation in shaping effective health policies, overcoming political and institutional barriers, and leveraging innovative tools for real-time health monitoring. The session will also highlight the role of civil society in ensuring accountability and community participation.
Through a panel discussion of national and regional experts, participants will gain insights into practical strategies to use evaluation to inform and justify budget decisions, through cross-sector collaboration and partnership.
When:
June 5, 2025 at 1:30 PM (EST)
How to join:
Speakers
Deputy Director, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
Ms Valdez has direct oversight of PAHO's Departments of Planning, Budget & Evaluation; External Relations, Partnerships & Resource Mobilization; Communications; and Governance. She brings decades of leadership in global health from the US government and international organizations including WHO & UNICEF.
Principal Advisor, Office of Evaluation, Inter-American Development Bank (OEV IADB)
Jos Vaessen is Principal Advisor at the IDB’s Office of Evaluation and Oversight. He has over 25 years of global experience in evaluation, research, and capacity building, with prior roles at UNESCO, the World Bank, and as co-founder of the Global Evaluation Initiative.
Director Evidence Use, Senior Training and Education Manager, CLEAR-LAC, J-PAL Latin America and the Caribbean
Shantal Aragón is the Director of Evidence Use at CLEAR-LAC, dedicated to empowering policymakers with evidence-driven decision-making. With experience at J-PAL and the Mexican government, she has shaped policies on rural development and poverty. She holds a Master’s in Health & Development from LSE.
Health Specialist, The World Bank
Cristian A Herrera is a Senior Health Specialist at the World Bank for LAC, with a career shaping health policy. Formerly Chile’s acting Vice Minister of Public Health and an OECD analyst, he brings deep expertise in health systems. A medical doctor, he holds a Public Policy MSc from LSE and an MBA.
Health Emergencies, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
Dr. Ciro Ugarte, Director of Health Emergencies at PAHO, has over 25 years of experience leading health emergency responses in the Americas. He spearheaded the implementation of recommendations from the evaluation of PAHO’s COVID-19 response, strengthening regional readiness.
Coordinator of the National Public Health Service (SNSP), Ministry of Health, Mexico
Dr Andrés Castañeda Prado a physician with master’s degrees in Sociomedical Sciences and Behavioral Economics, Andrés Castañeda has advised Mexico’s Ministry of Health on equity and access, led public health research at UNAM, and works on health rights, medical trainees' rights, and access to medicines.
Moderator
Sarah Cruz
Evaluation Specialist, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
Sarah Cruz is an Evaluation Specialist at PAHO with extensive experience leading thematic, strategic, and multi-country evaluations across Latin America and the Caribbean, West and East Africa, as well as Southeast Asia and the Pacific, in both development and humanitarian contexts. She has a proven track record in leveraging data-driven insights to strengthen health systems, promote gender equity, and support sustainable development.