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IsDB's Independent Evaluations Department Participates in 31st EvalNet Meeting

​Paris, June 19, 2024 — The Independent Evaluations Department of the IsDB participated in the 31st Meeting of the Development Assistance Committee Network on Development Evaluation (EvalNet) held from 18 to 19 June 2024 at the OECD Secretariat Paris, France. The department was represented by Br. Ahmed Ag Aboubacrine and Br. Ehtisham Ul Hassan. The OECD-DAC EvalNet contributes to better development results using evaluation to build a strong evidence base for policy-making and learning.

The EvalNet meetings, provide a forum for discussion on, i) Strengthening evaluation systems and building capacity, ii) Improving the quality of evaluations, and iii) Cultivating and communicating lessons and evidence to policy communities to improve impacts.

The meeting convened EvalNet's permanent members, observer members, and new observers, including representatives from the Council of Europe Bank (CEB), New Development Bank (NDB), GAVI, WHO, and other notable organizations. The gathering provided a unique platform for participants to acquaint themselves with the new members and foster collaborative efforts in the field of Development Evaluation. During the meeting, members shared updates on various initiatives, including the launch of new evaluation strategies and innovative approaches to strengthen the independence of evaluation functions in their organizations. These discussions underscored the importance of continuous improvement and adaptation in evaluation practices.

A highlight of the event was a series of engaging sessions, notably, one focused on System-wide Evaluation. This session delved into the methodologies and practices for evaluating development programs across multiple systems, offering valuable insights for participants.

Looking ahead, the 32nd EvalNet meeting will take place on February 26-27, 2025, providing another opportunity for members to converge, share knowledge, and advance the field of Development Evaluation.

 For further details, please check out the brief introduction of EvalNet and the meeting Agenda.

IsDB Speakers Joined Partners to Shape Country-led Evaluation of the SDGs

​In a bid to advance progressive and contemporary evaluation practices, the Fourth Global Evaluation Forum (GEF 2024) convened from February 26 – 29, 2024 in Rabat, Morocco, addressed the pressing need for country-led evaluation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event saw diverse speakers from the wider evaluation and development community, including the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), joining forces to shape the evaluation landscape. 

Speaking at the session on South-South Guidelines for Transformative Evaluation, Dr. Ahmed Abdelgawad, Senior Evaluation Specialist from the IsDB, said “By fostering collaboration and dialogue among experts and practitioners, the evaluation community needs to drive meaningful action toward achieving the SDGs through robust evaluation frameworks and methodologies.” The discussions held at the event underscored the importance of aligning evaluation efforts with national priorities and ensuring that evaluation practices are contextually relevant and impactful.

During the session titled “What lessons can be drawn from the experiences of institutionalizing the evaluation capacities and function worldwide?”, Said Mourabit, Country Economist from the IsDB, spelled out the importance of continuous work to be at the forefront of building a Professional Ecosystem at the country level through Capacity Development.  

Dr. Ahmed also spoke at the session on "Partnerships for evaluating SDGs agenda 2030” where he highlighted the IsDB's strategic commitment to enhance evaluation function internally as well as in the governmental bodies of the member countries through capacity enhancement as well as joint evaluations. He confirmed that IEvD employs a diverse set of evaluation types. This includes thematic evaluations, delving into specific sectors or cross-cutting themes, such as gender equality or climate change resilience, to provide insights into project effectiveness. Additionally, evaluations of regional integrated programs that offer a holistic perspective on interconnected challenges and opportunities, fostering synergies among member countries contributing to SDGs attainment. 

The primary focus of the forum was on operationalizing the new UN Resolution on country-led evaluation of the SDGs and strategizing on how to effectively implement it. As the world continues to grapple with complex developmental challenges, initiatives such as the GEF 2024 play a crucial role in shaping the future of evaluation practices and driving progress toward the SDGs. 

IEvD Shares Insights on Evaluation with Regional Hub of Dhaka

​The Independent Evaluation Department (IEvD) of the Islamic Development Bank conducted a knowledge-sharing session with the staff of the IsDB Regional Hub of Dhaka on June 11, 2024. The session aimed to introduce IEvD's role and functions, as well as to showcase some of its innovative evaluation products and platforms. Br. Amin Abdullahi and Dr. Ahmed Abdeljawad from the IEvD delivered a presentation on IEvD, which covered the department's background, strategic objectives, evaluation policy, evaluation framework, and evaluation products. They also highlighted some of the key features and benefits of IEvD's innovative platforms, such as LEARN, and STEER.

The presentation was followed by a Q&A session, where the colleagues expressed their interest and curiosity about IEvD's work and platforms. They asked questions regarding how to make the best use of LEARN and STEER, as well as how to integrate evaluation lessons into their project design and implementation. The IEvD team also demonstrated the features of the LEARN platform using live examples.

The session was well received by the participants, who appreciated the informative and interactive nature of the session. They also provided positive feedback and suggestions for improving the platforms and enhancing the collaboration between IEvD and the Regional Hubs. The IEvD team thanked the participants for their active engagement and expressed their willingness to conduct similar sessions with other Regional Hubs in the future.

IEvD Highlights the Transformative Impact of Localized Evaluation at Webinar

Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 4 June 2024 – As part of GEI’s Global Evaluation Week (gLOCAL), the Independent Evaluations Department of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group hosted a webinar exploring the theme “Localizing Evaluation Practice: Promoting Accountability and Learning.”

The event, moderated by Brother Nur Abdi, served as a platform for sharing experiences and lessons learned on localizing evaluation and ways to effectively assess interventions and tailor them to local contexts to improve accountability and learning, with the goal of achieving greater impact. In his opening remarks, Ahmed Ag Aboubacrine, Acting Director of the Independent Evaluations Department at IsDB set the stage by demonstrating the transformative impact of localized evaluation practice tailored to the unique needs of member countries through concrete examples of initiatives championed by the Independent Evaluations Department. 

During this interactive event, 42 participants had the opportunity to listen to and engage with three speakers: Megan Grace Kennedy-Chouane, Head of the Evaluation Unit at the OECD; Dr. Aref Ben Abdallah, International Affairs Advisor at the public administration school ENAP Canada; and Dr. Ahmed Abdelgawad, Senior Evaluation Specialist at IsDB. The speakers discussed various topics including the importance of localizing evaluation of development projects, ways to support and promote localization, lessons learned, and best practices in the field. 

Several key takeaways were highlighted: Localized evaluations foster ownership by local stakeholders, increasing the likelihood of uptake of recommendations. Localizing evaluation requires that it be locally led and participatory.  Local ownership and involvement of local stakeholders are key drivers of all six success criteria: coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, impact, and sustainability.  An essential aspect of localization should be to build the capacities of local experts, empowering them to act as catalysts in their communities for continuous learning and improvement of development results.

IEvD Leads Vital Discussion on Developing Arabic Content in Evaluation​

Online International Sessions, June 22, 2023 - The Independent Evaluation Department (IEVD) of the Islamic Development Bank led two sessions in the Development Forum titled “Online International Exchanges Sessions in Arabic - Canadian Evaluation Society Conference 2023” held virtually on June 22, 2023. The event was co-organized by the Canadian Evaluation Society, the IsDB, and the Canadian National School for Public Administration (ENAP).

Dr. Ahmed Abdelgawad from IEvD led the discussion during the first panel, which shed light on the challenges of creating an evaluation lexicon in Arabic as well as the main initiatives in promoting Arabic Content in evaluation development. The panel also included speakers from the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, the Inspector General of Secondary Education in Tunisia, and an Associate Professor from ENAP.

Dr. Abdelgawad emphasized the IsDB’s momentous contributions through the launch of the Arabic language version of the OECD DAC Evaluation Criteria – “Better Criteria, Better Evaluation” to facilitate monitoring and evaluation and promote a results-based culture in development interventions within the Arabic-speaking countries. Br. Elmoiz Mahmoud from the IEvD participated as a panelist in another session titled "Pioneer Training Programs in Arabic in Evaluation", which focused on the training program for excellence in the field of evaluation in the Arabic language, especially highlighting the role of IsDB in the capacity building of the member countries in development evaluation and the potentials for developing capacities for evaluation in the Arab countries.

The forum was attended by over 100 participants, providing them with the opportunity to interact directly with global development evaluation practitioners. It created a supportive environment for establishing networks for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and weaving relationships with the greater international development community. 

IEvD Holds Technical Session with Arab Coordination Group Discussed the Need for Institutionalization of Evaluation in the MENA Region

Organized a technical session with the heads and representatives of the Arab Coordination Group member institutions at the IsDB Annual Meeting 2023, where the speakers stressed the need for institutionalization of evaluation in the MENA Region. Having strong monitoring, evaluation and learning functions in place would provide the evidence needed to support decision-making during implementation of projects, they argued.

In welcoming the participants, IsDB President HE Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser said, "Organizations need to account for the use of resources and demonstrate results and the added value of their work as they are operating in an environment that calls for impartial, valid and credible evidence on the relevance, added value, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of their policies, programs and activities". He assured that IsDB is committed to securing greater cooperation and synergy with our development partners and pooling more resources and smarter solutions to edge closer to achieving the development results.

The opening remarks were delivered by the Director General and CEO of the OPEC Fund Dr. Abulhamid Alkhalifa, underscoring the need to develop a critical mass of knowledge and technical skills to bridge the gap in the monitoring, evaluation, and learning by developing the M&E systems and capabilities of the national institutions in the region.

The keynote of the session was presented by Dugan Fraser, Program Manager for the Global Evaluation  Initiative of the World Bank Group, focusing on how to build M&E systems, the benefits of strong M&E systems at the country level, and how GEI can contribute to bridging the knowledge gaps and building capacity in the MENA region.

The panel members also included Honorable Abdoul Salam Bello, the Executive Director of the Africa Group II at the World Bank Group Board, who shed light on balancing global and regional perspectives on evidence building, and Eng. Mohammad Jamal Alsaati discusses IsDB perspective on evidence to promote quality programs. Other key discussants were the heads and representatives of the Saudi Fund for Development, International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, OPEC Fund, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Arab Monetary Fund, AGFUND, Qatar Fund for Development, and Kuwait Fund.

Session on Corporate Governance Held at IEvD

​IEvD had an enlightening session on Corporate Governance on Monday, June 19, 2023, with Br. Demba Diallo, Manager, Corporate Governance Department and Br. Nashid Reza, Governance Policy Specialist, IsDB.

The speakers made a detailed Presentation on IsDB corporate governance and addressed questions and queries from the colleagues of the Independent Evaluation Department. The colleagues found the session quite informative and helpful

IEvD Organizes Launch Workshop for Evaluation of the Bank’s Corporate Procurement Process

The Islamic Development Bank Independent Evaluation Department (IEvD) organized a launch workshop on the upcoming Evaluation of the IsDB Corporate Consultancy Procurement Process. The purpose of the launch workshop was to engage directly with the concerned business units, align expectations, and gauge their interest in supporting the evaluation exercise. Br. Ahmed Ag. Aboubacrine, Acting Director of the IEvD, explained the main highlights of the evaluation approach paper and delineated the expectations from the key stakeholders both those housed at the IsDB headquarters and the regional hubs. The main objective of the evaluation is to give an independent and comprehensive assessment of the entire consultancy procurement process from preparing the business case and terms of reference to hiring the consultant to identify bottlenecks, strengths, and weaknesses. IEvD aims to provide lessons learned and recommendations to help improve the corporate consultancy procurement process. The evaluation will also assess the efficiency of the processes and relevance of the guidelines and tools, derive lessons learned, and yield insightful recommendations to improve the overall consultancy procurement process. 

Dr. Tarek El-Abbady, Director General of Corporate Services, emphasized the importance of data accuracy and transparency in the evaluation. "Our shared goal is to have an efficient procurement system".

IEvD Contributes to the Global Evaluation Initiative’s 2022 Implementation Committee Meeting

​IsDB’s Independent Evaluation Department (IEvD) participated in the Global Evaluation Initiative’s Implementation Committee Meeting of 2022 where the evaluation-focused institutions from over 35 partner organizations from all over the world brought their experience and expertise to deliver on a shared vision, reflected on the network’s country-level work and impact, identified new areas for collaboration, and built consensus on the GEI’s Implementation Model approach for Year 2 since the launch of the Initiative at the global stage. Moreover, the two-day long sessions included intense deliberations to reach an agreement on the main strategic priorities for GEI’s Training and Professional Development agenda, review the features of the knowledge strategy & platforms, and discuss GEI’s communication objectives and branding proposal.

The Meeting was attended physically by over 55 participants from a global network that includes bilateral and multilateral organizations, evaluation capacity service providers, civil society organizations, academic institutions, associations, and monitoring and evaluation experts.

The meeting builds on the recently concluded UNDP’s Seventh National Evaluation Capacities Conference (NEC) held in Turin from 26 to 28 October 2022. The conference is hosted biannually by the United Nations Development Program’s Independent Evaluation Office (UNDP-IEO), a founding partner of the Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI) where IsDB is a core partner. 

IEvD Organizes a Successful Technical Session with the Arab Coordination Group Addressing the Need for the Institutionalization of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning within Development Financiers

​Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 10 May 2023 – The Islamic Development Bank Independent Evaluation Department (IEvD) organized a technical session with the Heads of Operations and representatives from the Arab Coordination Group (ACG) member institutions at the margins of the IsDB Group 2023 Annual Meetings. During this event, the speakers stressed the need for the institutionalization of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems in their development interventions. Having strong MEL functions in place would provide the evidence needed to support decision-making during the implementation of projects, they argued. 

In welcoming the participants, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, IsDB President, stated, "Development organizations need to account for the use of resources and demonstrate both results and the added value of their work as they are operating in an environment that calls for impartial, valid and credible evidence on the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of their policies, programs, and activities". H.E. Dr. Al Jasser assured that IsDB is committed to securing greater cooperation and synergy with its development partners and pooling more resources and smarter solutions to edge closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The opening remarks of this technical meeting were delivered by Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, Director General & CEO of the OPEC Fund for International Development, who underscored that "Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) are vital for effective development project implementation and resource utilization. Institutionalizing MEL functions into development financiers' DNA is essential for accountability, transparency, and achieving positive impacts. At the OPEC Fund, we're committed to implementing effective MEL practices, as demonstrated by our forthcoming Development Effectiveness Report."

The keynote presentation was delivered by Mr. Dugan Fraser, Head of the Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI) of the World Bank Independent Evaluation Group, focusing on how to build M&E systems, the benefits of strong M&E systems at the country level, and how the GEI can contribute to bridging the knowledge gaps and building capacity in the MENA region and beyond.

The panel members also included Honorable Abdoul Salam Bello, Executive Director of the Africa Group II at the World Bank Group Board, who shed light on balancing global and regional perspectives on evidence building, and Eng. Mohammad Jamal Alsaati, Special Advisor to the IsDB President, discusses IsDB's perspective on the utilization of evidence as a powerful compass to shape well-targeted public policies, correct course and ultimately deliver better outcomes and development results. 

Other key discussants included the Heads of Operations and prominent executive-level representatives from the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGPD), and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED). 

About the Partner Organization

The Arab Coordination Group comprises 10 regional, and international organizations amongst them the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development; the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa; the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development; the Arab Gulf Programme for Development; the Arab Monetary Fund; the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) which is the AAA-rated multilateral development bank (MDB) of the Global South; the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development; the OPEC Fund for International Development; the Qatar Development Fund; and the Saudi Fund for Development. The Group pools resources and coordinates initiatives with the goal of providing effective and impactful development support through projects and operations.

About the IsDB

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) is a multilateral development bank that has been working for over 40 years to improve the lives of the communities it serves by delivering impact at scale. We bring together 57 member countries across four continents, touching the lives of 1 in 5 of the world's population. The IsDB is headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Our mission is to equip people to drive their own economic and social progress at scale, putting the infrastructure in place to enable them to fulfill their potential.

For more information about the IsDB,

• Please visit: www.isdb.org
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Pre-Symposium Seminar Series: 25 September-01 October 2024