Donna Podems

Director

Donna Podems is the founder and director of OtherWISE. She brings 20 years of experience working with governments, civil society, nongovernmental groups, international donors, and foundations to conduct monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning and training. She holds a doctorate in interdisciplinary studies focused on Programme Evaluation and Organizational Development, and a Masters degree in Public Administration.

She has lived and/or worked in the United States, Botswana, Burma, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of South Africa, Senegal, Somaliland, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Bosnia, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Belize, Nicaragua, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA, and Vietnam.

She conducts her work across a range of technical areas including agriculture, HIV/AIDS, TB, health systems, youth interventions, education, human rights, environment, orphans and vulnerable children, community needs, and women’s empowerment.

Her research focus is on evaluator competencies, process use, and feminist evaluation. Dr. Podems is a current Board Member for the American Evaluation Association (AEA), past Board Member for the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association (SAMEA), and past Chairperson for the AEA's International Committee and the Feminist Evaluation TIG. She is a member of AEA, IDEAs, and SAMEA.