Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at OMNI: Methods

At OMNI, our team continually develops, adapts, and applies best practices in equitable evaluation, research, and capacity building to support our clients and advance the fields we work in. We see our EDI journey as an ongoing learning process, and we are committed to advancing equity in our work. By sharing our experiences, we aim to benefit others while also inviting feedback on ways we can improve our methods.

Our Team

Our evaluation team includes several internal staff who rotate through specific projects to develop, test, and apply best practices in our projects. Our interdisciplinary teams span various content and methodological areas of expertise. By working across our best practices teams and projects, our staff use their experiences to create and implement resources for project teams.

Our equitable evaluation practices are led by Paola Molina, Ph.D., a Research Director at OMNI who brings over a decade of qualitative and mixed-methods research experience to our work. Dr Molina has a passion for equitable practices and also leads and advises on numerous internal EDI efforts at OMNI Institute. Read Dr. Molina’s full bio.

Resources & Knowledge

Our team is continually developing and testing equitable practices in our applied environment. And we’re committed to sharing our experiences, tools, and resources with our community.

Inclusive Language Guide

OMNI developed its Inclusive Language Guide to promote inclusive, respectful, and accessible language across our projects. It provides guidance on using language that avoids biases, fosters belonging, and respects cultural, gender, and social diversity in all forms of project communication. It also includes practical examples and alternatives to common phrases, encouraging communication with empathy and awareness of others' lived experiences. Access the Inclusive Language Guide or learn more about inclusive language at OMNI.

Inclusive Demographics Questions Guidance

OMNI built its Inclusive Language Library to promote inclusive, respectful, and accessible language across our projects. It provides guidance on using language that avoids biases, fosters belonging, and respects cultural, gender, and social diversity in all forms of project communication. It also includes practical examples and alternatives to common phrases, encouraging communication with empathy and awareness of others' lived experiences.

Equity Checklists for Project Best Practices

We developed equity checklists for best practices in quantitative and qualitative methods to help ensure that data collection, analysis, and reporting practices are inclusive and representative of diverse populations. In reporting and data visualization, equity checklists guide creators to avoid biased representations, use accessible formats, and present findings transparently. For survey design and implementation, these checklists encourage clear, culturally sensitive language, diverse response options, and methodologies that minimize barriers for all respondents.

Using the Intercultural Development Inventory to Build Intercultural Competence and Inclusive Practices as Evaluators: Part 1 (Internal Work)

Many of our partners and clients have expressed interest in the strategies and tools we use at OMNI to enhance intercultural competence and foster inclusive practices, supporting our commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). One key tool we've adopted is the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI®). Seeing its potential to deepen our EDI work, our EDI Director, Dr. Paola Molina, became a Qualified Administrator (QA) for the IDI. This tool is one of many resources in our EDI Action Plan. In this first part, we’d like to share insights on how we’ve integrated the IDI into our internal practices.

Using the Intercultural Development Inventory to Build Intercultural Competence and Inclusive Practices as Evaluators: Part 2 (Client Work)

Gaining insight into the intercultural competence of individuals and groups is essential to driving impact in EDI initiatives and capacity-building efforts. This understanding enables us to customize strategies and outcomes for greater effectiveness in our projects and training programs. In Part 2: Client Work, we explore how we’ve used the IDI with our clients to personalize training and capacity-building services, resulting in more meaningful and impactful outcomes.

Equitable Evaluation Lunch & Learn

Dr. Paola Molina presents what we have learned and some details of our future direction on the journey to center equitable evaluation here at OMNI. Specific topics explored include the foundational concept that evaluation should be used in service of equity, and how we are working to integrate equity at every stage of our projects (from research design in the proposal stage that addresses systems-level change, to data gathering that builds trust and engagement, to final reporting and deliverables that address systemic determinants and share information back to the community).

Connect and Share Your Feedback

If you have questions about our equitable evaluation practices or methods or would like to chat about collaborating on our work, please reach out, we’d love to connect!