Zenda Ofir

Zenda Ofir is a South African scientist and evaluation specialist whose work connects evaluation, systems transformation, strategic foresight, and living systems, with a special focus on Africa and Asia. Drawing on experience on the ground in more than 40 countries, as well as at transnational and global levels, she explores how societies can better navigate the profound social, ecological, and institutional shifts required in an era of global turbulence, mind-engineering, and AI dependence.

With a PhD in ecological chemistry, Zenda managed national research-grant programs before becoming Director of Research at Pretoria University with responsibility for all university research and international affairs. Since 2000, she has worked as evaluator and advisor with bilateral and UN agencies, governments, universities, and foundations, and with networks, INGOs, and global funds such as IUCN, GAVI, ISC, TWAS, and CGIAR. Having led or contributed to more than 100 major evaluations, she believes that the field must change fundamentally to contribute meaningfully to the demands of the cascading crises threatening humanity and nature.

She has been President of the African Evaluation Association, Vice-President of the global associations IDEAS and IOCE, Scientific Leader and Council Chair of the International Evaluation Academy, and Steward in the SDG Transformations Forum. She has held honorary and visiting professorships in South Africa and Japan, led university modules on four continents, and advised four international journals. She recently served as Resident Senior Impact Advisor to the Mastercard Foundation’s Pan-African Programs, and is currently the South African member of the High-Level Evaluation Advisory Committee of the BRICS New Development Bank.

Zenda helped initiate Made in Africa Evaluation; led the collaborative development of the African Evaluation Principles; co-developed Research Quality Plus (RQ+) for assessing research for development and the Four Lenses framework to highlight evaluation’s value for systems transformation; and established the Three Horizons-based H2+ qualities to guide transformational design and evaluation.

She now focuses on integrating insights from diverse knowledge systems and disciplines in support of transformational development, and explores how in an AI era, evaluative thinking, strategic foresight, and Global South perspectives can help advance regenerative futures grounded in the interdependent wellbeing of people and nature.