Evaluation Cooperation Group Presentation to the OECD DAC Evaluation Network 31 March 2006

Who Are We? ECG created in 1995 Original Members: heads of evaluation departments of the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank Group. European Investment Bank joined in 1998 and IMF’s Independent Evaluation Office in 2001. Observers: UNDP representing UNEG and the OECD DAC Evaluation Network.

What Does ECG Do? The 1996 Development Committee Task Force called for harmonization of evaluation methodologies, performance indicators, and criteria by the MDBs. ECG’s mandate focuses on harmonization of evaluation principles, standards, and practices. Harmonization part of Paris Declaration. The ECG also addresses issues related to accountability, learning from past experience, sharing lessons and strengthening their use.

Good Practice Standards and Benchmarking Studies ECG uses two instruments to promote evaluation harmonization among MDBs: developing good practice standards (GPS); benchmarking studies assess the extent to which the GPS is applied by the ECG members.

Private Sector Evaluations First GPS was followed by a benchmarking study. The GPS was refined based on the results of the benchmarking study. The second benchmarking exercise was completed in 2004. While progress was made by most MDBs towards harmonization, there remained some issues. The report was made public on ECG members’ websites and on the OECD DAC website. As a result of this benchmarking study, the revision of GPS will be completed in 2006. EBRD and IFC are playing the lead role in this area.

Public Sector Investment Evaluations A GPS has been developed for public sector investment lending. A benchmarking study of public sector investment operations will start in 2006. The World Bank is playing the lead role.

Policy Based Lending Evaluation The GPS for Policy Based Lending was endorsed by the ECG in 2005 and has been made publicly available. A benchmarking study for policy loans will take place in 3 years. AsDB took the lead in this area.

Country Assistance Program Evaluations The ECG agreed that a GPS should be developed for country assistance evaluations. Work will begin in 2006 AsDB taking the lead role in developing this GPS.

TA/TC Evaluation The ECG agreed that a GPS should be developed for TA/TC Evaluation. Work is underway. Once the GPS is completed, a benchmarking study will be undertaken. IFC is taking the lead role in developing this GPS.

New ECG Activities First paper to draw together evaluation findings from ECG members -- Permanent Poverty Reduction Requires Sustainable Infrastructure Peer reviews – draw on OECD DAC experience Joint data base of evaluation ratings.

Thank You