Supporting country evaluation systems

A view from the donor community

Megan Grace Kennedy-ChouaneOECD DAC Network on Development Evaluation

April 2011

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

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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)

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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

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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

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Donor-centric, imposed from outside

Collaborative, joint evaluation

Country initiated, led, beyond aid

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

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Highest involvement as consultants or during field visits

Partner country stakeholders are involved...

Some involvement in design and management

Partner country stakeholders are involved...

Very little involvement at beginning and end of cycle

Partner country stakeholders are involved...

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

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Shukran! Thank you ! Comments and suggestions welcome

megan.kennedy@oecd.orgwww.oecd.org/dac/evaluation

www.oecd.org/dac/evaluationnetwork/derec