1. Supporting country evaluation systems A view from the donor community Megan Grace Kennedy-Chouane OECD DAC Network on Development Evaluation April 2011

2. Overview of the presentation Introduction to the OECD DAC EVALNET Strengthening country systems: –Why? –How? Findings from study of evaluation in development agencies Task team on evaluation capacity development Some challenges 2

3. Network on Development Evaluation Part of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Made up of evaluation departments of all bilateral and seven multilateral development agencies Work to strengthen evaluation by facilitating joint work, developing norms and standards, managing Dev’t Evaluation Resource Centre (DEReC) 3

4. Why does it matter to donors? Mandate of the Evaluation Network to support capacities International commitments: –Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness –Accra Agenda for Action –DAC Quality Standards for Development Evaluation Results pressure: increased demand for demonstration of broader development results both national and international Conceptual: often does not make sense to look only at aid 4

5. How are donors supporting country systems? Funding direct ECD activities Harmonise, coordinate and align Engaging in joint evaluation (unchecked assumption: doing -> learning?) Standards, guidance, sharing experiences 5 Donor-centric, imposed from outside Collaborative, joint evaluation Country initiated, led, beyond aid

6. Study of evaluation in development agencies Progress on joint evaluation: 29% (18% involving partner country) Evaluation policies increasingly include capacity support and partner role Uneven spread: darlings/orphans 78% think evaluations do not adequately meet needs of both donors and recipients Need to unpack idea of partner “involvement ” in evaluation 6

7. Highest involvement as consultants or during field visits Partner country stakeholders are involved...

8. Some involvement in design and management Partner country stakeholders are involved...

9. Very little involvement at beginning and end of cycle Partner country stakeholders are involved...

10. Challenges to discuss Many experiences to share (beyond evaluation) As capacity excuse recedes, other challenges emerge in practice. Hard to be everything to everyone: Serious limitations around scope, focus, relevance, timing Putting the cart before the horse? Evaluations should flow out of overall ownership, alignment Fundamental problem: would strong country evaluation systems meet donor’s needs (learning, accountability, convincing donor publics) Power relations: value-based exercise 10

11. Shukran! Thank you ! Comments and suggestions welcome megan.kennedy@oecd.org www.oecd.org/dac/evaluation www.oecd.org/dac/evaluationnetwork/derec