Cloneshouse has been recognised as a 2026 Youth in Evaluation Legacy Champion, marking another major milestone in its sustained commitment to youth inclusion, capacity development, and professional advancement within the global evaluation landscape.
The recognition was announced during the global inauguration of the Youth in Evaluation Forum 2026 and Champion Awards, organised by the Eval4Action campaign and partners on May 19, 2026. The award places Cloneshouse among a select group of institutions acknowledged for integrating Youth in Evaluation standards into the design, implementation, and use of evaluative evidence.
The 2026 edition featured 42 organisations drawn from academia, government, youth networks, international organisations, the private sector, Voluntary Organisations for Professional Evaluation, and United Nations agencies. Out of these, 15 organisations were recognised across two categories: Legacy Champions and Champions. Recognised organisations included Cloneshouse, the Asia Pacific Evaluation Association, the UNFPA Independent Evaluation Office, the Mongolian Evaluation Association, United Nations Human Rights, and Lady Irwin College, Delhi University.
This latest recognition builds on Cloneshouse’s earlier global achievements in advancing youth participation in evaluation. In 2024, Cloneshouse was recognised as an Emerging Super Champion for upholding the Youth in Evaluation standards and as a Champion for Advancing Young Professionals in Evaluation Jobs. In 2025, the organisation was further honoured as a Youth in Evaluation Super Champion, reinforcing its growing leadership in youth-centred evaluation practice.
Being named a Legacy Champion in 2026 reflects the organisation’s consistent investment in creating practical pathways for young and emerging evaluators. Through Cloneshouse LLC and Cloneshouse Foundation, the organisation has supported young professionals through internship programmes, Monitoring and Evaluation training, mentorship initiatives, career development support, learning platforms, and opportunities for practical engagement in evaluation and development work.
These efforts include the Cloneshouse African Internship Programme, the Cloneshouse European Internship Programme, and the now unified Cloneshouse Internship Programme, which expands access to young and emerging professionals from different parts of the world. The programme provides structured exposure to Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning, data, communication, and development practice, while helping participants build the technical and professional skills required to contribute meaningfully to evidence-based decision-making.
Speaking on the recognition, Oludotun Babayemi, Chief Executive Officer of Cloneshouse, said the award affirms the organisation’s long-standing commitment to youth inclusion in evaluation.
“This recognition is deeply meaningful to us because it affirms the work we have continued to do in creating space for young people in evaluation. At Cloneshouse, we believe youth participation should go beyond invitation. Young and emerging evaluators must be equipped, mentored, trusted, and given real opportunities to contribute to the generation and use of evidence. Being named a Legacy Champion strengthens our resolve to keep building pathways for the next generation of evaluators,” he said.
The Youth in Evaluation Champion Awards were launched in 2024 to promote institutional commitment to meaningful youth participation in evaluation systems and practice. The initiative also seeks to bridge intergenerational gaps, strengthen evidence use in development, and encourage organisations to move beyond symbolic youth inclusion toward intentional, practical, and sustained engagement.
For Cloneshouse, the 2026 Legacy Champion recognition is not only a celebration of past achievements but also a call to deepen its work. The organisation remains committed to expanding opportunities for young people across Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning, data, communication, and the responsible use of emerging technologies.
The recognition has also received wider public attention, with the story published in national media outlets including Vanguard and Environews. These publications further highlight the significance of Cloneshouse’s contribution to youth development and evaluation practice in Nigeria, Africa, and globally.
As Cloneshouse continues to build on this legacy, the organisation will keep strengthening youth development initiatives, supporting evidence-based development practice, and working with partners who share its commitment to preparing the next generation of evaluators for meaningful impact.
