Studies Workplan 2010-11

Study Brief Public Financial Management

Study Brief Humanitarian

Study Brief Conflict Prevention & Peacebuilding Democratic Republic of Congo

Study Brief Conflict Prevention & Peacebuilding Sudan

Study Brief Equality, Empowerment & Engagement

Study Brief India Country Programme Evaluation

Study Brief Nigeria Country Programme Evaluation

Study Brief Paris Declaration 2

Study Brief Public Sector Governance Reform

Study Brief Social Protection

Study Brief Tanzania Country Programme Evaluation

Study Brief Tanzania Budget Support

Study Brief Anti-Corruption

Study Brief Climate Change

Study Brief Aid for Trade

• Evaluation Department's Studies Work-plan for 2010-11;
• Evaluation Resources;
• Lesson Learning;
• A presentation on the Cross Government Evaluation Group;
• Impact Evaluation;
• Update on the Ghana Case Study;
• IACDI Achievements & Forward Look.

Full version of the minutes

The paper has two purposes. Firstly, it summarises the methods used in the review, the main findings and recommendations. Secondly, it lays out recommendations, for enhancing evaluation quality and discusses whether the review provides IACDI with sufficient information on evaluation quality to fulfil its Terms of Reference.

This final version replaces the earlier one which was posted on the IACDI website in September. It has been amended following external comments, including those expressed at an expert roundtable on 4 November, and further discussion by IACDI. It also includes DFID's Management Response.

Click here to access.

Request for comments on reports ( by Roger Riddell, Burt Perrin and Richard Manning) commissioned by IACDI.

As part of its role in monitoring evaluation quality in DFID, IACDI commissioned a review to assess the quality of DFID's evaluation reports and its assurance systems. The review is now complete and available here on the website in 3 parts. It was undertaken by experts Burt Perrin and Richard Manning, managed by Roger Riddell, a member of IACDI, who has also produced an overview report drawing on and summarising the other two.

The review highlights 11 key recommendations for DFID to improve the quality of evaluation work, and to strengthen DFID's approach in using evaluation work for lesson learning (see pages iii - vii of Roger Riddell's report). As part of the review, DFID's evaluation systems were compared with other donor agencies, and found to be broadly on par with those of comparator bilateral agencies.

IACDI now invites and welcomes comments on the reports - particularly on the overview report by Roger Riddell. IACDI will be discussing the reports at its next meeting on 4th November, and would particularly welcome comments from external stakeholders before then, so that they can be taken into account at its meeting.

Please send comments to mail@iacdi.independent.gov.uk by 23 October 2009.

As part of its role in monitoring evaluation quality in DFID, IACDI commissioned a review to assess the quality of DFID's evaluation reports and its assurance systems. The review is now complete and available here on the website in 3 parts. It was undertaken by experts Burt Perrin and Richard Manning, managed by Roger Riddell, a member of IACDI, who has also produced an overview report drawing on and summarising the other two.

The review highlights 11 key recommendations for DFID to improve the quality of evaluation work, and to strengthen DFID's approach in using evaluation work for lesson learning (see pages iii - vii of Roger Riddell's report). As part of the review, DFID's evaluation systems were compared with other donor agencies, and found to be broadly on par with those of comparator bilateral agencies.

IACDI now invites and welcomes comments on the reports - particularly on the overview report by Roger Riddell. IACDI will be discussing the reports at its next meeting on 4th November, and would particularly welcome comments from external stakeholders before then, so that they can be taken into account at its meeting.

Please send comments to mail@iacdi.independent.gov.uk by 23 October 2009.

Thank you

'Building the evidence to reduce poverty' sets out an approach to evaluation focused around four pillars:

• increased independence in evaluation
• working increasingly in partnership not in isolation
• driving up quality of evaluation
• creating a genuine culture of learning

A copy of the DFID evaluation department forward work programme for 2009-10 is also available here.

• Review/endorse final DFID Evaluation Policy and Implementation Plan
• Consider findings of the 'Review of the Quality of DFID's Evaluation Reports and Assurance Systems' and form Committee conclusions
• Consider 2009 Evaluation Tracking Report in discussion with relevant Director's for Thematic and Geographic evaluations
• Consider issues for the 2nd IACDI Annual letter to DFID's Secretary of State

DFID and IACDI have therefore been working closely together to define a new policy which will set the course for evaluation in the future. We have also produced a topic list of potential areas for evaluation over the coming 3 years. So you will see here two documents on which we would like your feedback, the "DFID Evaluation Policy"  and the "Evaluation Topic List"

Further details and background information.

Please send your comments in as early as possible to mailto:evaluationfeedback@dfid.gov.uk.  The consultation period will end on 3 March 2009.

The paper is designed to facilitate consideration of reforms aimed at strengthening evaluation independence at DFID. It was commissioned by the Independent Advisory Committee for Development Impact (IADCI) after its first meeting. An earlier draft provided the basis for the Committee's discussion of evaluation independence at DFID during its second and third meetings.

It covers governance structures, evaluators' behavior, conflicts of interest and protection from external interference. It is in three parts. First, evaluation independence is defined and its relevance for evaluation quality and impact is specified. Second, the current status of independent evaluation at DFID is examined. Third, conclusions and recommendations are outlined.

Its proposed actions are to be taken in two phases. The first phase of actions would make the Evaluation Department (EVD) more influential and add to its budget resources. Next, IACDI would expect the second phase actions to be implemented over the next 2 – 3 years. Some of these actions might best be taken when the current head of EVD is replaced.

Evaluation Independence at DFID (final)

The Chair welcomed Finbar O’Brien and Tom Bernes who were invited to speak on their respective experiences of independent evaluation in Irish Aid and the IMF. He also welcomed and updated all other participants on the activities that had taken place since the first meeting.