Global Participation

Delegates from dozens of countries contributed to the National Evaluation Capacities dialogue, sharing innovative practices in monitoring and evaluation.

Indran A. Naidoo

UNDP IEO

Conference Delegates

43 Countries

Keynote Speakers

NEC 2015

The evolution of national evaluation capacities reflects a growing recognition that sound public policy depends on rigorous, evidence-based assessment. Over the years, governments and international organizations have worked to strengthen the institutional frameworks that underpin evaluation, moving beyond ad hoc project reviews toward comprehensive systems that inform budget decisions, strategic planning, and accountability mechanisms. This shift signals a broader commitment to learning-oriented governance and results-based management across diverse development contexts.

International conferences on evaluation have served as pivotal platforms for exchanging knowledge, methodologies, and lessons learned among practitioners from around the globe. These gatherings bring together government representatives, independent evaluation offices, civil society actors, and development partners in a collaborative setting. Through plenary discussions, thematic sessions, and informal networking, participants explore how evaluation can better support transparency, inclusiveness, and the achievement of national and international development priorities.

Building a robust evaluation culture requires more than technical expertise; it demands political will, dedicated resources, and an enabling legal and policy environment. Countries at various stages of development have adopted different institutional models, ranging from centralized evaluation units within government ministries to autonomous bodies operating at arm's length from executive authority. Each approach reflects unique historical, constitutional, and administrative realities that shape how evaluation findings are produced and used.

The relationship between evaluation and sustainable development has become increasingly central to global policy discourse. As nations pursue integrated approaches to economic, social, and environmental progress, evaluation provides a critical feedback loop that helps identify what works, under what conditions, and for whom. This learning function is essential for adapting strategies in complex and rapidly changing contexts, ensuring that interventions remain relevant and effective over time.

Capacity development in evaluation encompasses a wide spectrum of activities, from training individual evaluators and strengthening professional associations to enhancing data systems and fostering demand for evaluative evidence among decision makers. Sustained investment in these areas helps create an ecosystem where evaluation is not seen as an external imposition but as an intrinsic part of good governance, valued for its contribution to improved service delivery and public trust.

Peer-to-peer learning and communities of practice play a vital role in advancing national evaluation capacities. When practitioners from different countries share their experiences with designing evaluation policies, conducting complex assessments, and communicating findings to diverse audiences, they contribute to a growing body of shared knowledge. Such exchanges help bridge the gap between global standards and local realities, encouraging context-sensitive approaches that respect national ownership.

The documentation and dissemination of conference proceedings, case studies, and methodological guidance constitute an important legacy of international evaluation gatherings. These resources serve as reference materials for policymakers, evaluation professionals, and academics seeking to deepen their understanding of emerging practices. By making such knowledge widely accessible, the global evaluation community supports continuous learning and helps new generations of practitioners build on past achievements.

Inclusive evaluation practices emphasize the importance of engaging a broad range of stakeholders throughout the evaluation process, from design and data collection to validation and use of findings. Participatory approaches can enhance the relevance and credibility of evaluations while building local capacity and ownership. They also help ensure that the perspectives of marginalized or underserved groups are captured, contributing to more equitable and representative assessments of development efforts.

Looking ahead, the field of national evaluation continues to evolve in response to new challenges and opportunities. Innovations in data analytics, digital technologies, and mixed-methods approaches are expanding the toolkit available to evaluators. At the same time, the growing complexity of development problems calls for more adaptive, systems-oriented evaluation frameworks that can accommodate uncertainty and support real-time decision making in pursuit of lasting, transformative change.