Dr. Awuor Ponge is an Associate Fellow, in-charge of Research, Policy, and Evaluation at the African Policy Centre (APC). He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Gender and Development Studies from Kenyatta University’s Department of Sociology, Gender and Development Studies in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Ponge is an Adjunct Faculty in the same Department. Ponge has been extensively involved in capacity building and project management and has had over 20 years of experience in academia as a Lecturer and Trainer in tertiary educational institutions in Kenya; and in the Practice of International Development, both as a Scholar and Practitioner.

He is an experienced Researcher, Evaluator, Policy Analyst, Program Manager, and Facilitator. He has extensive international experience in program planning, monitoring, and evaluation. Ponge is an expert in evaluating national and global advocacy programmes using innovative participatory evaluation methodologies and approaches including Outcome Harvesting and Most Significant Change (MSC) among others. He was awarded the International Organisation for Collaboration in Evaluation (IOCE) and EvalPartners Award in 2015 for his contribution to Evaluation in Africa and for Mentoring Young and Emerging Evaluators.

Dr. Ponge is a Double-Masters Degree holder in Development Studies from the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) of the University of Nairobi on a Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (SYLFF) Scholarship; and in Education, Gender and International Development (MA – EGID) from the Institute of Education (IOE) of the University of London on a Commonwealth Scholarship. He has previously served as the Special Rapporteur of the Think Tank Network in Eastern Africa (TTN-EA). Earlier, Ponge graduated with a Summa cum Laude (First Class Honours) Bachelor of Arts Degree in Literature and Philosophy from the University of Nairobi.

Dr. Ponge is a member of the Africa Gender and Development Evaluators Network (AGDEN) and the African Evaluation Society (AfrEA). He has previously served as a Board Member at the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association (SAMEA) as well as a Former Board Member and Regional Representative for Sub-Saharan Africa at the International Development Evaluation Association (IDEAS); and a former Board Member and National Treasurer of the Evaluation Society of Kenya (ESK). Ponge has also previously sat on the Board of the International Organization for Collaborative Outcome Management (IOCOM), representing Africa; as well as served as the Kenya Country Representative at the International Organization for Collaborative Outcome Management (IOCOM).

Dr. Ponge is the Convener of the Gender and Evaluation Thematic Interest Group at IDEAS; and also the founder and former Leader of the Working Group on Mentoring Emerging Evaluators Programme at IDEAS. Ponge has sat at the EvalGender+ Management Group, where he was Co-Convener for the Communication and Knowledge Management Task Group; and Co-Convener of the Advocacy and Leadership Task Group. Ponge is presently the Secretary of the African Chapter of the Guidelines International Network (G-I-N) and the Africa Regional Representative at the EvalIndigenous Global Network.