The Consultation on the Sixth Replenishment of IFAD’s Resources discussed a paper presented by the Fund on strengthening the effectiveness of the evaluation function at IFAD in the light of international experience. The paper was in response to a proposal made by the Consultation on the Sixth Replenishment of IFAD’s Resources that the Office of Evaluation (OE) report directly to the Executive Board, independently of IFAD management and, as has been the case since 1994, of the President of IFAD. The paper covered international principles for evaluation of development assistance, and analysed how selected multilateral development organizations handle the issue of independence of their evaluation functions. The paper also explained IFAD’s current approach to evaluation and proposed ways both to enhance independence and to improve the effectiveness of the evaluation learning loop. The Consultation supported many concepts developed in the paper, and endorsed the value of independent evaluation and its contribution to learning. It also confirmed the need to formulate an evaluation policy for IFAD and provided guidance on elements to be considered in such a policy (see Annex I). The evaluation policy proposed in this document takes into account these guidelines and provisions, which are contained in document GC 26/L.4 of the Governing Council.1 The focus of this document is on independent evaluation, which in IFAD is the role of OE.2/3 TThe document is organized in four parts. Part One outlines the policy framework, which consists of the purpose of independent evaluation and its stakeholders, the evaluation principles and the operational policies to be used by IFAD in its independent evaluation work. Part Two ddetails operational procedures, organizational measures and other arrangements that ensure OE’s independence from IFAD management and enhance its effectiveness. Part Three presents the role of the Executive Board and its Evaluation Committee in relation to the independent evaluation function, and the terms of reference (TOR) of the OE Director. Part Four describes how the policy will become effective, including the staggered introduction of particular provisions. The annexes summarize the guidelines and provisions for policy formulation laid down by the Consultation, outline important milestones in the organization of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) at IFAD, introduce the types of evaluation that OE undertakes, and recapitulate the current TOR of the Executive Board’s Evaluation Committee. 1/ The document is entitled Enabling the Rural Poor to Overcome their Poverty: Report of the Consultation on the Sixth Replenishment of IFAD’s Resources (2004-2006). 2/ In addition to and distinct from independent evaluation, IFAD-funded projects and the operational units of IFAD undertake self-assessment of IFAD-supported operations. In this document, however, evaluation refers specifically and exclusively to the independent evaluation function of OE. 3/ Taking into account the difference in size, the proposed policy draws, in particular, on the experience of the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank, two of the international financial institutions that put most emphasis on the independence of their evaluation function from management |
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