Over the years, evaluation has become an increasingly critical function in multilateral and bilateral development agencies, including international financial institutions (IFIs) and United Nations organizations.

It is through evaluation that assessments and analyses of operations and strategies are conducted, with a view to better understanding what is working well, what is not working well and, most importantly, the factors that have an impact on performance.

Historically, the Member States, governing bodies and Management of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – a unique institution that is both a specialized agency of the United Nations and an IFI – have always taken evaluation very seriously.