National Capacity Development on evaluating SDGs with and equity-focused and gender-responsive lens

National Capacity Development on evaluating SDGs with and equity-focused and gender-responsive lens through technical assistance

Within the “No One Left Behind” project, EvalGender+ is supporting 11 countries on applying new tools and methodologies to evaluate SDGs with an equity-focused and gender-responsive lens. Countries and/or Evaluation Associations/Networks have been selected as part of a competitive process based on key criteria including geographical distribution, degree of interest in applying equity-focused and gender responsive approaches to evaluation of SDGs; capacity of governments, civil society and VOPEs to work together, as well as resources and capacities to support the trainings.

Report of the Regional Consultation II on Equity-Focused and Gender-Responsive National Evaluation Policies and Systems in Asia

Held on 23, 24 November 2016, Hanoi, Vietnam

Compiled by Asela Kalugampitiya, EvalPartners Executive Coordinator

EvalGender+ network gave a grant to conduct Asia Pacific Evaluation Association and the Parliamentarians Forum to conduct a regional consultation on “equity-focused and gender-responsive national evaluation policies” in Asia. It was organized by APEA, Parliamentarians Forum for Development Evaluation – South Asia and Global Parliamentarians Forum for Evaluation in collaboration with EvalGender+, UN Women and UNICEF. VOPE leaders, parliamentarians and government representatives from 16 Asian countries with representatives from development partners participated in the consultation to share the current progress and prepare country work plans to advance the NEP process. The consultation enabled participating countries to work on national evaluation policy and system together with stakeholders.

In September 2014, Parliamentarians Forum for Development Evaluation, with support from EvalPartners, held a regional consultation on national evaluation policies in South Asia. This was the first regional consultation in Asia where all eight South Asian countries attended the consultation and prepared country work plans. By following up with countries, it revealed that 4 out of 8 South Asian countries currently have draft policies awaiting for cabinet approval. One draft policy includes equity focus and gender responsive provisions (Afghanistan section 3.3). The other 3 countries are considering to include EFGR aspects in the policy. One country has evaluation included in the constitution with technical support from EvalPartners (Morocco has evaluation as a constitutional provision). Three other countries plan to start the NEP process this year.

The second consultation is to stimulate more countries in Asia to work on national evaluation policies and systems and encourage South Asian sub region to continue the good work. The consultation also attracted reputed resource people including Marco Segone, Ziad Moussa, Dorothy Lucks, Ada Ocampo and Aru Rasappan. EvalPartners together with APEA will follow up with countries to continue the process.