Yulia Vyatkina

Editor, Positive Changes Journal

The IX conference of the Russian Association of Specialists in Program and Policy Evaluation (ASPPE) took place online on October 17–18, 2023. This year’s conference featured 42 presentations and hosted 14 thematic and discussion sessions. The event drew over 500 attendees from all corners of Russia, spanning from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in the Far East to Kaliningrad in the West and Makhachkala in the South, the organizers say.

The conference program encompassed two main tracks: “Wellbeing-Focused Evaluation” and “Evaluation of Sociocultural Projects,” in addition to thematic segments dedicated to evaluation in specific domains – such as social entrepreneurship, working with children with special developmental needs, individuals with disabilities, and various forms of chronic illnesses. As usual, several sessions were also devoted to evaluation methodologies.

“The program was exceptionally rich, packed with engaging and substantive presentations. The relevance of the issues on the table and the profound discussions surrounding them underscore that interest in evaluation remains unwavering. I believe that thanks to our speakers and partners, whom I’d like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to, the conference offered an opportunity for all participants to expand their knowledge, enhance their professional competencies, delve into existing practices, and introduce their real-world working experiences to colleagues. In my view, this event holds great significance and utility, nurturing a sense of unity within the evaluation community and inspiring fresh achievements,” remarked Anna Lygina, President ASPPE.

The Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for evaluating the implementation of state programs and policies, among other things, has been an active participant in the conference for several years. In recent times, this regulatory body has been actively championing an evidence-based approach.

“In 2021–2022, we organized an extensive competition for government and municipal employees to encourage the adoption of an evidencebased approach in decision-making. [17] In 2023, in collaboration with the Financial University, we are hosting a research project competition for undergraduate and graduate students. [18] We aspire to cultivate a community of individuals passionate about evaluation among students, researchers, and decision-makers,” stated Anastasia Kim, Deputy Head of Inspection at the Research and Methodology Department of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation, during the ASPPE conference’s opening session.

The central theme of this year’s conference revolved around the evaluation of quality of life and well-being. As early as the 1960s, researchers began to conclude that gross domestic product (GDP) and the standard of living were not the ideal indicators to describe society’s life and individual well-being. That is how the concept of “quality of life” emerged, oriented toward a comprehensive assessment of various aspects of societal life, including non-material ones. [19]

In 1972, the concept of Gross National Happiness was introduced by the King of Bhutan in place of the commonly used GDP. This immediately elevated a small South Asian nation to become a trailblazer among countries making happiness the cornerstone of national policy. In 2008, the kingdom developed the corresponding tool – the Gross National Happiness Index. Happiness indices have since been calculated for various countries. One example is the World Happiness Report, published by the UN’s Sustainable Development Solutions Network. [20] According to the 2023 report, Russia ranks 70th out of 137 countries in terms of happiness, with Finland, Denmark, and Iceland leading the chart.

Approaches to assessing the quality of life, well-being, and happiness are intricately interlinked, as noted by Natalia Kosheleva, a member of the ASPPE Board and a consultant specializing in monitoring and evaluating socially oriented programs and projects.

According to the expert, these approaches can be categorized into three major groups, distinguished by their impact scale:

1. National/Territorial

Programs and policies aiming to enhance the quality of life, well-being, and happiness of people within a specific country or territory.

2. Organization-Specific

Programs or projects whose objective is to promote the quality of life, well-being, and happiness of individuals within a given organization.

3. Individual

The goal of programs and policies is to ensure the quality of life, well-being, and happiness of specific individuals.

The national/territorial approach can be illustrated by Bhutan, where the Gross National Happiness Index encompasses 9 spheres of human life:

• Psychological well-being;

• Health;

• Time utilization (e.g., adequate sleep is considered an important part of well-being);

• Education;

• Cultural diversity and sustainability;

• Quality management;

• Quality of life in local communities;

• Ecological diversity;

• Standard of living.