​In a bid to advance progressive and contemporary evaluation practices, the Fourth Global Evaluation Forum (GEF 2024) convened from February 26 – 29, 2024 in Rabat, Morocco, addressed the pressing need for country-led evaluation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event saw diverse speakers from the wider evaluation and development community, including the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), joining forces to shape the evaluation landscape. 

Speaking at the session on South-South Guidelines for Transformative Evaluation, Dr. Ahmed Abdelgawad, Senior Evaluation Specialist from the IsDB, said “By fostering collaboration and dialogue among experts and practitioners, the evaluation community needs to drive meaningful action toward achieving the SDGs through robust evaluation frameworks and methodologies.” The discussions held at the event underscored the importance of aligning evaluation efforts with national priorities and ensuring that evaluation practices are contextually relevant and impactful.

During the session titled “What lessons can be drawn from the experiences of institutionalizing the evaluation capacities and function worldwide?”, Said Mourabit, Country Economist from the IsDB, spelled out the importance of continuous work to be at the forefront of building a Professional Ecosystem at the country level through Capacity Development.  

Dr. Ahmed also spoke at the session on "Partnerships for evaluating SDGs agenda 2030” where he highlighted the IsDB's strategic commitment to enhance evaluation function internally as well as in the governmental bodies of the member countries through capacity enhancement as well as joint evaluations. He confirmed that IEvD employs a diverse set of evaluation types. This includes thematic evaluations, delving into specific sectors or cross-cutting themes, such as gender equality or climate change resilience, to provide insights into project effectiveness. Additionally, evaluations of regional integrated programs that offer a holistic perspective on interconnected challenges and opportunities, fostering synergies among member countries contributing to SDGs attainment. 

The primary focus of the forum was on operationalizing the new UN Resolution on country-led evaluation of the SDGs and strategizing on how to effectively implement it. As the world continues to grapple with complex developmental challenges, initiatives such as the GEF 2024 play a crucial role in shaping the future of evaluation practices and driving progress toward the SDGs.