IFAD’s Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE) celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2013. The occasion will be observed by the Executive Board at its April meeting.

A brochure will be published to mark the adoption in 2003 of IFAD’s first Evaluation Policy, which led to the establishment of IFAD’s independent evaluation function with direct reporting lines to the Executive Board. The brochure will include an overview of IOE, an account of lessons learned from evaluations and observations from internal and external partners. Various activities will take place during the year focusing on the impact of IOE’s evaluations, studies and reports.

The evaluations produced by IOE enable IFAD to be transparent in recognizing achievements and shortcomings. They also contribute to accountability and learning, and help managers to maximize IFAD’s effectiveness as a development agency.

One of IOE’s most significant contributions was the Independent External Evaluation (IEE), presented to the Executive Board in 2005. This evaluation identified shortcomings in IFAD’s organizational structure, operational procedures and policies, and led to a thorough re-think of IFAD’s strategies and operating models.

Two corporate-level evaluations by IOE – the Direct Supervision Pilot Programme in 2005 and the Field Presence Pilot Programme in 2007 – led to the introduction of direct supervision of projects and the establishment of IFAD country offices, two of the most significant adjustments to IFAD’s business model since its foundation in 1977.
Various corporate-level evaluations have focused on rural finance, gender, innovation and scaling up, and partnership with the private sector. Country programme evaluations, for example in Argentina, Ghana and India, have contributed to better country programmes that have increased IFAD’s credibility, effectiveness and accountability.

The World Bank and various international financial institutions were the precursors of the independent evaluation function in IFAD. They contributed to the body of knowledge about evaluation and to the development of a fully independent evaluation function at IFAD. Today IOE is recognized by peers and country partners as an effective provider of evidence-based independent analysis anchored in sound evaluation methodology.