Paris, June 19, 2024 — The Independent Evaluations Department of the IsDB participated in the 31st Meeting of the Development Assistance Committee Network on Development Evaluation (EvalNet) held from 18 to 19 June 2024 at the OECD Secretariat Paris, France. The department was represented by Br. Ahmed Ag Aboubacrine and Br. Ehtisham Ul Hassan. The OECD-DAC EvalNet contributes to better development results using evaluation to build a strong evidence base for policy-making and learning.

The EvalNet meetings, provide a forum for discussion on, i) Strengthening evaluation systems and building capacity, ii) Improving the quality of evaluations, and iii) Cultivating and communicating lessons and evidence to policy communities to improve impacts.

The meeting convened EvalNet's permanent members, observer members, and new observers, including representatives from the Council of Europe Bank (CEB), New Development Bank (NDB), GAVI, WHO, and other notable organizations. The gathering provided a unique platform for participants to acquaint themselves with the new members and foster collaborative efforts in the field of Development Evaluation. During the meeting, members shared updates on various initiatives, including the launch of new evaluation strategies and innovative approaches to strengthen the independence of evaluation functions in their organizations. These discussions underscored the importance of continuous improvement and adaptation in evaluation practices.

A highlight of the event was a series of engaging sessions, notably, one focused on System-wide Evaluation. This session delved into the methodologies and practices for evaluating development programs across multiple systems, offering valuable insights for participants.

Looking ahead, the 32nd EvalNet meeting will take place on February 26-27, 2025, providing another opportunity for members to converge, share knowledge, and advance the field of Development Evaluation.

 For further details, please check out the brief introduction of EvalNet and the meeting Agenda.