The Philippines M&E System Aleli F. Lopez-Dee APEA Regional Conference on Equity-Focused and Gender-Responsive National Evaluation Policies and Systems in Asia 23 – 24 November 2016 Melia Hotel and Resort Hanoi, Vietnam 31-Jul-18

National Evaluation Policy Framework Current evaluation system Anchored on the results-based management principle Based on various legal bases (e.g., ODA Act of 1996, EO 376 and 93, NEDA-DBM JMC 2015-01) Conducted jointly with development partners and initiated by NEDA National Evaluation Policy Framework The National Evaluation Policy Framework (NEPF) was signed on July 15, 2015. The NEPF took the form of a NEDA-DBM Joint Memorandum Circular Launched in November 2015 during the 5th M&E Network Forum Preparatory activities are underway to fully implement the policy (e.g., drafting of the implementing guidelines) The current evaluation system in the Philippines is based on the principle of results-based management, which is the shift from inputs and activities to outputs, outcomes, and impacts – or what they refer to as results. The evaluation functions of the government, in particular NEDA, is based on the following legal bases. (a) The ODA Act of 1996 which instructs NEDA to conduct an annual review of status of all projects financed by ODA; (b) EO 376 and 93 or the Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation System, which provides the guidelines for the effective conduct of monitoring and evaluation activities at then national, regional, and local levels.; and recently the NEDA-DBM Joint Memorandum Circular on Evaluation which provides the framework for the purposive conduct of evaluation in the public sector. 31-Jul-18

National Evaluation Policy Framework (NEPF) Policy Statement: Framework for the purposive conduct of evaluations in the public sector in support of good governance, accountability and evidenced-based decision-making Objective: Support for evidenced-based decision Promotion of program/policy improvement Promotion of accountability Coverage: All programs, projects, and policies of the Government 31-Jul-18

Current demand and use of evaluation Demand for evaluation comes from both government and non-government actors, especially development partners. Evaluation results are used by oversight agencies, legislative bodies, and the executive branch, among others for decision-making (e.g., technical budget hearings, investment programming), and in influencing policy. The demand for evaluation comes from both government and non-government actors, but mostly from the development partners because of their ODA commitments. Nevertheless, there have been considerable increase in the demand for and use of evaluations from government entities as these are being used in various branches of government. 31-Jul-18

Challenges in evaluation Varying levels of evaluation capacities (competencies and skills) across Departments/Agencies Need to capacitate the departments/agencies to conduct internal evaluations, and outsource and manage evaluation Set-up of evaluation unit remains a big challenge for some departments/agencies (National and sub-national levels) Absence of central repository of evaluation studies Limited political buy-in Availability of baseline information 31-Jul-18

Thank You (Mabuhay) Aleli F. Lopez-Dee National Economic and Development Authority Monitoring and Evaluation Staff PHILIPPINES 31-Jul-18