Sonam Wangyel Wang (PhD) Executive Director EVALUATION ASSOCIATION OF BHUTAN “Fostering a Professional Evaluation Culture for Happiness” Sonam Wangyel Wang (PhD) Executive Director

WHAT IS EAB? EAB – Evaluation Association of Bhutan “Informal” association/community of Bhutanese evaluators Individual membership only – open and no fees as of now Member of the Voluntary Organizations for Professional Evaluation (VOPEs) Similar to Community of Evaluators (CoEs) in other countries

WHY EAB? Because there is an urgent need to: Advocate development evaluation across all sectors and among all stakeholders Contribute to strengthening the evaluation quality and functions Build evaluation capacity and forge professional networks Contribute to ensuring cost-effectiveness, achievement of results and sustainability of development programmes/projects Provide a suitable platform for focused dialogue and discourse on evaluation Create demand for high quality evaluations

Bhutan EvalYear Forum on Evaluation for Gross National Happiness EAB ORGANIZATION (1/2) Board Executive Director Treasurer Task Teams Bhutan EvalYear Forum on Evaluation for Gross National Happiness

EAB ORGANIZATION Interim Board of Directors Interim Secretariat Chair – Ms Kunzang Lhamu, ED/NCWC Member – Ms Phuntsho Wangyel, RED/GHNC Member – Mr Sangay Tshering, Green E Solutions Member – Ms Dechen Zangmo, UNICEF Member – Tashi Dorji, GNHC Member Secretary – ED, EAB Interim Secretariat Executive Director – Sonam W. Wang (PhD), Treasurer – Ms Chimmi Dema, GNHC

So far 11th July 2013 First meeting of like-minded individuals and organizations Agreed to keep the association “informal” with RED/GNHC as the interim coordinating body Formed and activated five Task Teams Driving forces: GNHC/RGOB and UNICEF Bhutan Involvement of Parlimantarians About 100 “informal” individual members, as of now Facebook Group page created and very active 5 Task Teams – Institutional Development + PR and Communications + Professional Development and Training + Partnerships and Fund Mobilization + Sustainability and Knowledge Management

So far 5 – 6 Sep 2013: Cross Learning Training on Evaluation Experiences between Bhutan and Nepal Supported by EvalPartners/IOCE as a P2P programme among VOPEs Interim leadership and management elected EAB Secretariat activated 1 Feb - 31 Oct 2014: Management Response to Evaluation Study P2P programme (Bangladesh – Bhutan – Nepal) 18 – 20 Dec 2014: Impact Evaluation Training

THE WAY FORWARD/key results EAB proposal for formal registration with CSOA CSO registration application filed with the CSO Authority – for registration as an MBO (mutual benefit organization) Jun 2016: EAB Policy EAB Communications Strategy & Action Plan 2016-2018 National Evaluation Policy of Bhutan

THE WAY FORWARD/key results Bhutan Evaluation Agenda 2016 – 2020 Adapting the Global Evaluation Agenda 2016-2020/SDGs to Bhutan’s context and prioritizing it National Evaluation Policy approval and implementation Integrating EAB’s Communications Strategy & Action Plan 2016-2018 Membership drive Focus on individual members from various stakeholders

CHALLENGES (& opportunities) Registration with the CSO Authority Long process + uncertainty of outcome Financial resources to: Formally set up EAB – start Meet day-to-day operational expenses Commitment of interim Board members and office bearers Voluntary/part-time basis Capacity

CONTACT EAB www.evalbhutan.org info@evalbhutan.org