Transcript Challenges, Opportunities and Approaches for increasing Joint Donor Programming of Evaluations Presentation at the Eighth Meeting of the DAC Evaluation Network 18 – 19

Challenges, Opportunities and Approaches
for increasing
Joint Donor Programming of Evaluations
Presentation at the Eighth Meeting of the DAC Evaluation Network
18 – 19 November 2008
A study with the aim of building on
previous work on joint evaluations
– with the objective of taking the next step
towards an increased reliance on joint
evaluations among the DAC Evaluation
Network members
Joint evaluation - not a new feature:
–
The DAC principles for evaluation of development
assistance, 1991
–
Review of the DAC principles, 1998
–
Effective practices in conducting a joint multi-donor
evaluation, 2000
–
Joint evaluations: Recent experiences, lessons learned
and options for the future (the Breier report), 2005
–
Guidance for managing joint evaluations, 2006
Paris Declaration (2005)
Accra Agenda for Action (2008)
Provide a strong case for joint
evaluations
Donors’ perceptions of joint evaluation work
Paves the way for finding opportunities and
approaches for overcoming remaining obstacles,
permitting an increased reliance on – and hence
increased participation in - joint evaluations.
Challenges for increasing the amount of
joint evaluations:
•
Difficulties to plan jointly:
– to identify partners for joint evaluation
work
– to identify areas appropriate for joint
evaluations
Challenges for increasing partner country
ownership of joint evaluations:
•
Insufficient capacities
• Insufficient inclusion
RECOMMENDATIONS
(Members’ internal measure)
1.

Introduce joint evaluation clearly
in the evaluation policy.
How?
Identify areas amenable for joint work – e.g. major
humanitarian and sector work - and emphasise joint
evaluation as the default choice of evaluation mode in these
areas. Single donor evaluations would then have to be
explicitly justified.
(directed to the Network:)
2. Share (multi-annual) evaluation plans.

How?
It is recommended that a communication strategy about
sharing evaluation plans is agreed within the DAC
Network.
3. Consider the development of a
“global market-place”.

How?
It is suggested that the idea of developing a “global
market-place”, where Network members and other
potential partners can identify and exploit “intersections”
in their evaluation plans, is considered.
4. Ensure that joint evaluation is considered where
joint policies and programmes exist.

How?
Exploit opportunities for joint evaluation in areas where
joint policies and programming exist, and where this
would be most fruitful, in particular Joint Assistance
Strategies and sector work.
5. Establish a short-list of major issues and topics
where joint evaluation would be fruitful.

How?
The DAC Evaluation Network should consider identifying a
short-list of major issues and topics where joint
evaluations would be fruitful, and that the Network
members should seek to prioritise over several years.
(For strengthening the partner country’s ownership)
6. Establish a common capacity-building programme
in evaluation.

How?
It is suggested that Evaluation Network members
exchange existing individual capacity-building plans in
order to identify areas in which collaboration would be
fruitful. This could constitute the first step towards the
development of a common capacity-building programme.
7. Involve the partner countries at an early stage.

How?
It is recommended that:
• Intended partners for a joint evaluation meet at an
early stage. Partner countries could be invited to the
DAC Evaluation Network meetings, or intending donor
partners to a joint evaluation could visit the partner
country.
•
An agreement on evaluation and its leadership is
included within the initial design of with the partner
country.
Paris Declaration
Accra Agenda for Action
Provide a strong case for joint
evaluations