Building evaluation capacity: short course for Cambodian government officials

A five-day Evaluation Short Course held at UTS has strengthened the capacity of Cambodian officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and related agencies to lead evaluation across public financial management (PFM) reform. 

Developed and delivered by the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), the course equipped participants with technical skills, evaluative thinking, ethical practice, and leadership tools – all grounded in co-design and adult learning principles. 

Tailored evaluation training  

The course, led by expert facilitators, empowered participants to foster a culture of evaluation within their institutions. 

Mr Innes Ireland, UTS Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor Global Partnerships, opened the event by emphasising the value of international collaboration and the co-designed nature of the course.  

“This course is built on a co-design process that ensures content is tailored to participants, connecting theory with the practical realities of Cambodian government reform,” Ireland said. 

“It also reflects our commitment to building mutually beneficial international partnerships and delivering global impact through our work,” he said. 

The curriculum adapts global evaluation frameworks to local contexts, reflecting UTS’s commitment to Asia-Pacific engagement and its 2030 vision of being a globally connected, socially just institution. 

Professor Stuart White, Director at ISF, shared insights into ISF’s approach to evaluation capacity building. He stressed the importance of addressing individual skills, institutional culture, and broader systems for evidence-based decision-making.  

Reflecting on the experience, Mr Chheng Tola, Cambodian Ministry of Economy and Finance, said the collaboration offered a uniquely targeted and effective model for professional development.

“This partnership was special because both parties worked closely from the outset to ensure the course reflected our government’s expectations,” he said.  

“The content was relevant, context-specific, and tailored to our reform agenda – something difficult to achieve through one-size-fits-all training.” 

He added that the course’s balance between theory and practice, and the insights shared by international guest speakers, would help his team strengthen evaluation capacity within Cambodia’s PFM reforms. 

Looking ahead 

Following successful deliveries in 2024 and 2025, ISF plan to extend the partnership into 2026, continuing to build evaluation capacity for sustainable development and strengthen relationships with key government agencies in Cambodia.