2024 NEC Conference: Knowledge Shared and Knowledge Acquired

The Center for Learning on Evaluation and Results for Anglophone Africa (CLEAR-AA), an implementing partner of the Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI), participated in the 2024 National Evaluation Capacities (NEC) Conference held in Beijing from October 14 to 18. During the event, CLEAR-AA facilitated several sessions, including “Exploring NES Assessment Tools: Effective Use and Timing in National Evaluation System,” “Strengthening NES through Accessible, Actionable, and Relevant Evidence,” and “Expanding the Evaluation System - Collaborating with Academia and VOPEs to Enhance Capacity and Capability in Evidence Generation and Use.”  

In addition, CLEAR-AA moderated the NEC sessions entitled “Local Values and Decolonizing Evaluation,” “Navigating Contextual and Cultural Diversity: Tailoring Evaluation Systems to National and Regional Realities,” and “Strengthening National Evaluation Capabilities: Integrating Evaluation into Government Processes.” 

Knowledge Shared  

The NEC session on national evaluation systems (NES) assessment tools delved into the effective application of NES assessment tools within national evaluation systems, highlighting best practices for their timing and implementation. The insights shared by the panel underscored several key points, such as the distinct strengths and applications of tools like the National Evaluation Capacities Index (INCE) and the Monitoring and Evaluation Systems Analysis (MESA), which demonstrate that a one-size-fits-all approach is inadequate, necessitating a customized strategy. Panelists emphasized the importance of NES assessment tools in bolstering national evaluation capacities and the critical need to integrate these tools into existing national evaluation systems to ensure alignment with national priorities and institutional frameworks. 

During the NEC session on expanding evaluation systems, panelists highlighted the benefits of collaborating with academia and voluntary organizations for professional evaluation (VOPEs). The discussion emphasized that partnerships with academic institutions and VOPEs can greatly enhance the capacity and capability for evidence generation and use. Academic institutions contribute valuable research expertise, methodological rigor, and training, which are essential for developing a skilled workforce in public sector evaluations. Collaborations with VOPEs provide established evaluation standards, extensive networks, and ongoing learning opportunities, all of which foster high-quality and consistent evaluation practices. Collectively, these partnerships can strengthen the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) ecosystem, build trust and credibility, and enhance the public sector's ability to generate credible evidence to inform policy decisions.

One significant facilitator of collaboration during the conference was the world café sessions, which encouraged greater audience engagement and led to meaningful discussions and insights. For instance, in the session "Navigating Contextual and Cultural Diversity: Tailoring Evaluation Systems to National and Regional Realities," participants revealed that the evaluation systems in both South Africa and Madagascar were developed in response to several key factors, including a pressing need for accountability to ensure that newly established democratic governments were answerable to their citizens and that public funds were utilized effectively. The session also emphasized the need to improve service delivery to rectify historical inequalities, particularly for marginalized communities.

Knowledge Acquired  

One key takeaway from the conference sessions is that there is a clear difference between evaluation capacities and evaluation capabilities. Evaluation capacities encompass the essential skills, knowledge, and systems needed to conduct evaluations, while evaluation capabilities focus on the ability to use evaluative evidence to make well-informed policy decisions.

To embed evaluation capabilities within government operations more effectively, several strategic approaches were recommended by panelists: 

1. Institutionalize Evaluation: Make evaluation a mandatory part of government processes, integrating it into budgeting, policymaking, and planning cycles. This helps ensure evaluations are not seen as optional or separate activities but as central to governance and decision-making. 

2. Roles and Responsibilities: Include and designate specific government bodies or units responsible for evaluations, such as a central agency or Ministry of Finance, to create accountability and coherence. This clarifies who manages, conducts, and uses evaluations. 

3. Capacity-Building for Government Staff: Invest in training programs for public sector staff to develop evaluation skills, especially in data collection, analysis, and interpretation.  

4. Strengthen Coordination and Collaboration: Encourage coordination between ministries and departments, fostering shared understanding and use of evaluation findings. Regular meetings or committees on evaluation can facilitate this collaboration. 

5. Allocate Dedicated Resources for Evaluation: Ensure stable funding for evaluation activities, especially in planning and budgeting. Dedicated resources make it easier to prioritize and sustain evaluations. 

6. Incorporate Evaluation into Policy Frameworks: Embed evaluation requirements in legislation, policies, or regulations. When written into policy, evaluations become a requirement rather than an afterthought, encouraging long-term commitment. 

7. Encourage a Culture of Continuous Learning: Foster an environment where evaluations are used to learn and improve rather than merely audit or critique. Encouraging feedback loops and evidence-based adjustments strengthens evaluation impact.