The Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE), previously called OE, is responsible for evaluating IFAD’s operations and policies. In April 2003, the Executive Board approved IFAD’s Evaluation Policy which led to IOE’s independent status. Since then, IOE reports directly to the Executive Board.

IOE evaluates IFAD-funded projects and programmes to assess what works and what doesn’t and to determine how far IFAD’s policies and strategies are successful in tackling poverty alleviation in rural areas. In identifying key insights and recommendations drawn from evaluation findings, IOE is also concerned, in accordance with IFAD’s disclosure policy, with communicating and sharing IFAD’s knowledge and experience of rural and agricultural development with a wider audience. IOE's evaluation is based on a coherent set of evaluation methodologies.

The role of the Executive Board with regard to the Independent Office of Evaluation is to:

• oversee IFAD’s evaluation work and assess the overall quality and impact of IFAD’s programmes and projects as documented in evaluation reports
• approve the IOE's annual work programme and budget
• approve policies aimed at enhancing the independence and effectiveness of the evaluation function at IFAD
• receive directly from IOE all evaluation reports, including the Annual Report on Results and Impact of IFAD Operations
• endorse the appointment, removal or renewal of service of the IOE Director