2024 National Evaluation Capacities Conference
Venue
Yanqing District, Beijing, China
Date
14-18 October
Theme
Responsive Evaluation: For Government, For Inclusion, For the Future

Evaluation systems and capacity gaps at the national level, however, remain a major challenge in many countries. Since 2009, the Independent Evaluation Office of UNDP (UNDP IEO) has organized biennial National Evaluation Capacities (NEC) Conferences to tackle these issues in partnership with governments and national evaluation communities.

The 2024 NEC Conference is the eighth in the series of conferences and will be co-hosted by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) from 14 to 18 October 2024 in Yanqing District, Beijing, China.

The main theme of the 2024 NEC conference is “Responsive Evaluation: For Government, For Inclusion, For the Future.” This theme underscores the importance of sharing progress and lessons learned in strengthening national evaluation systems, their role in achieving the SDGs and other development goals, and how new technologies and approaches in evaluation can facilitate the achievement of these.

The 2024 NEC conference once again offers Government representatives at all levels, private sector, civil society, academia, United Nations agencies and other international organizations an opportunity to share progress, lessons, innovations, experiences, and perspectives in strengthening national monitoring and evaluation systems.

The conference will provide opportunities to enhance the skills of those commissioning, conducting, using and advocating for evaluation, while also nurturing new and existing parnerships to strengthen national evaluation systems, with an emphasis on South-South cooperation.

This year’s sessions will be organized around three intersecting strands:

  • National Evaluation Systems: Building strong evaluation systems ensuring use.
  • Inclusive Evaluation Systems: Including citizens’ voice, alternative knowledge, evaluating complexity.
  • Future-driven Systems and Approaches: Adapting technology, innovative approaches, synthesis and knowledge management.
Programmes
9:00-10:00 Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony

 

10:00-10:40 Session on Chinese Evaluation

Evaluation Advances in China

11:30-12:30 Plenary 1

Responsive Evaluation Systems

14:00-15:30 Parallel sessions

Embedding Evaluation into Government

Stream A: Government

 

Inclusion and Citizens’ Voice

Stream B: Inclusion

 

Environmental Sustainability and Evaluation

Stream C: The Future

16:00-17:30 Parallel sessions

Parliamentarians as Change Agents

Stream A: Government

 

The Triple Nexus and Evaluation

Stream B: Inclusion

 

Transforming Evaluation through Big Data & Tech

Stream C: The Future

14:00-15:30 Parallel sessions

A Who's Who of the Evaluation System

Stream A: Government

 

Youth in Evaluation

Stream B: Inclusion

 

Future-thinking and Transformation

Stream C: The Future

9:00-10:30 Plenary 2

Inclusion Matters

11:00-12:30 Parallel sessions

Exploring NES Assessment Tools

Stream A: Government

 

Navigating Contextual and Cultural Diversity

Stream B: Inclusion

 

Global Partnership for Stronger Evaluation

Stream C: The Future

16:00-17:30 Parallel sessions

Evaluation to Promote Governmental Coordination

Stream A: Government

 

Gender Equality in Evaluation Systems

Stream B: Inclusion

 

Digitalizing the Public Sector for Better Evaluation Systems

Stream C: The Future

9:00-10:30 Parallel sessions

From Data to Decision: KM & Communication

Stream A: Government

 

Local Value and Decolonizing Evaluation

Stream B: Inclusion

 

A Systems View of Our World

Stream C: The Future

11:00-12:30 Parallel sessions

Country-Led Evaluations and the SDGs

Stream A: Government

 

Learning Through Reciprocal Approaches

Stream B: Inclusion

 

Artificial Intelligence and its Opportunities

Stream C: The Future

14:00-15:30 Plenary 3

Panel on the Future

16:00-17:30 Closing Ceremony

Closing Ceremony

Documents
Partners
CIDCA logo
China International Development Cooperation Agency

China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) will co-host the 2024 NEC Conference. CIDCA formulates strategic guidelines, plans and policies for foreign aid, coordinates and offers advice on major foreign aid issues, advances China's reforms in matters involving foreign aid, and identifies major programs and supervises and evaluates their implementation.

GEI logo
Global Evaluation Initiative

In 2020, UNDP IEO joined forces with the World Bank Independent Evaluation Group and other partners to establish the Global Evaluation Initiative, a global network of organizations and experts supporting developing country governments with strengthening monitoring, evaluation, and the use of evidence in their countries. The NEC conference has been organized in collaboration with the Global Evaluation Initiative since 2022.

Country Participation
Workshops

Language : English

Trainers:

  • John Lavis (Global Commission on Evidence to Address Societal Challenges)  
  • Kerry Albright (UNICEF)
  • Trainer #3 (TBD)
     

Brief Description:

This interactive workshop will provide an introduction to using evaluations and evidence synthesis in government policymaking. The objectives are:

  1. To understand how different forms of evidence can help to answer different questions that can be asked by government policymakers.
  2. To understand how… Read More

Language : English

Trainers:

  • Shivit Bakrania (UNDP)
  • Nina Ashley Dela Cruz (Lanzhou University)
  • Meixuan Li (Lanzhou University)
  • Zhenggang Bai (Campbell China Network)
     

Brief Description:

This interactive workshop will introduce evidence maps, an online interactive and visual tool that can support evidence informed decision-making.

Evidence maps are innovative visual tools that support informed, efficient, and transparent decision-making in policy,… Read More

Language : English

Trainers:

  • Megan Grace KENNEDY-CHOUANE (OECD) with participation of select governments

Brief Description:

During this interactive workshop, presenters will introduce a core framework for government evaluation systems and share examples of improving evaluation quality to achieve sustainable development goals. Participants will learn core concepts and norms in public sector evaluation, including the OECD’s legal recommendations on Public Policy Evaluation, criteria, and quality standards.

The session draws on forty years of OECD… Read More

Language : English (*Small groups can be done in Spanish)

Trainers:

  • Andy Rowe (Footprint Evaluation)
  • Anna Warnholz (DEval)

Brief Description:

This interactive workshop will explore various strategies to ensure that evaluations across government portfolios and program focuses include environmental sustainability and equity in their design and approach. The workshop will emphasize practical steps for government agencies and evaluators to improve ecosystem health and equity in all evaluations.

Key topics include:

Language : English

Trainers:

  • Anish Pradhan (UNDP IEO)
  • Gonzalo Gomez (UNDP IEO

Brief Description:

The workshop provides evaluators with the skills to leverage AI tools effectively while adhering to ethical standards:

  1. Introduction to AI for Evaluators: Covers basic AI concepts, its relevance to evaluation, and current applications in the field including United Nations AI governance. Participants will learn how AI can enhance evaluation processes.
  2. Use of AI Tools in Evaluation: Presents UNDP’s AIDA (Artificial Intelligence for… Read More

Language : English

Trainers:

  • Ketevan Nozadze (World Bank/ GEI)
  • Sarah Klier (DEval)

With support from CLEAR Centre experts:
Edoe Agbodjan, Lycia Lima, Takunda Chirau and INCE experts: Juan Pablo Mottola, Guido Tomas Quiroga, Eddy Garcia
 

Brief Description:

This training session aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of national evaluation systems by analysing their main components, relationships and overall capacity. The workshop will cover key elements of diagnostic tools like MESA and INCE, including real-world… Read More

Language : English

Trainers:

  • Ada Ocampo (IDEAS)
  • Thomas Rossmuller (UNICEF)
  • Eddy Garcia (Ministry of Planning, Costa Rica)

Brief Description:

The workshop “Accelerating progress towards Agenda 2030: The role of country-led SDG evaluations” 
will build on the Guidebook “Evaluation to Connect National Priorities with the SDGs: A Guide for Evaluation Commissioners and Challenges“, along with other resources on evaluation and the SDGs.

It will feature real-world examples from various… Read More

Language : English

Trainers:

  • Thania Paola de la Garza Navarret (Independent Consultant for MDBs)
     

Brief Description:

Some of the toughest challenges in establishing and sustaining M&E systems are often not visible at the design stage. This workshop addresses these challenges by focusing on using incentives to strengthen National M&E Systems through responsive evaluation.

Participants will explore how incentives can create an environment that supports M&E system sustainability. The session includes brief presentations and… Read More

Language: Chinese

Trainers:

  • Xin Xin Yang (UNICEF)
  • Qiming Liu (China Agricultural University)
  • Chuanhong Zhang (China Agricultural University)

 

About the workshop

This workshop aims to boost Chinese officials' skills and leadership in planning and conducting evaluations to support the evidence base for informed decision-making. It also seeks to assist in the building of an evaluation culture among participants and create a network of professionals for sharing best practices and… Read More

Language : English

Trainers:

  • John Lavis (Global Commission on Evidence to Address Societal Challenges)  
  • Kerry Albright (UNICEF)
  • Trainer #3 (TBD)
     

Brief Description:

This interactive workshop will provide an introduction to using evaluations and evidence synthesis in government policymaking. The objectives are:

  1. To understand how different forms of evidence can help to answer different questions that can be asked by government policymakers.
  2. To understand how… Read More

Language : English

Trainers:

  • Shivit Bakrania (UNDP)
  • Nina Ashley Dela Cruz (Lanzhou University)
  • Meixuan Li (Lanzhou University)
  • Zhenggang Bai (Campbell China Network)
     

Brief Description:

This interactive workshop will introduce evidence maps, an online interactive and visual tool that can support evidence informed decision-making.

Evidence maps are innovative visual tools that support informed, efficient, and transparent decision-making in policy, practice, and research. They organize and display the evidence on a… Read More

Language : English (French or Spanish material may be available)

Trainers:

  • Megan Grace KENNEDY-CHOUANE (OECD) with participation of select governments

Brief Description:

During this interactive workshop, presenters will introduce a core framework for government evaluation systems and share examples of improving evaluation quality to achieve sustainable development goals. Participants will learn core concepts and norms in public sector evaluation, including the OECD’s legal recommendations on Public Policy Evaluation, criteria, and quality standards.

Read More

Language : English (*Small groups can be done in Spanish)

Trainers:

  • Andy Rowe (Footprint Evaluation)
  • Anna Warnholz (DEval)

Brief Description:

This interactive workshop will explore various strategies to ensure that evaluations across government portfolios and program focuses include environmental sustainability and equity in their design and approach. The workshop will emphasize practical steps for government agencies and evaluators to improve ecosystem health and equity in all evaluations.

Key topics include:

Language : English (Spanish material may be available)

Trainers: 

  • Anish Pradhan (UNDP IEO)
  • Gonzalo Gomez (UNDP IEO

Brief Description:

The workshop provides evaluators with the skills to leverage AI tools effectively while adhering to ethical standards: 

  1. Introduction to AI for Evaluators: Covers basic AI concepts, its relevance to evaluation, and current applications in the field including United Nations AI governance. Participants will learn how AI can enhance evaluation processes.
  2. Use of AI Tools in Evaluation:… Read More

Language : English

Trainers:

  • Ketevan Nozadze (World Bank/ GEI)
  • Sarah Klier (DEval)

With support from CLEAR Centre experts:
Edoe Agbodjan, Lycia Lima, Takunda Chirau and INCE experts: Juan Pablo Mottola, Guido Tomas Quiroga, Eddy Garcia
 

Brief Description:

This training session aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of national evaluation systems by analysing their main components, relationships and overall capacity. The workshop will cover key elements of diagnostic tools like MESA and INCE, including real-world… Read More

Language : English (Spanish material may be available)

Trainers:

  • Ada Ocampo (IDEAS)
  • Thomas Rossmuller (UNICEF)
  • Eddy Garcia (Ministry of Planning, Costa Rica)

Brief Description:

The workshop “Accelerating progress towards Agenda 2030: The role of country-led SDG evaluations” 
will build on the Guidebook “Evaluation to Connect National Priorities with the SDGs: A Guide for Evaluation Commissioners and Challenges“, along with other resources on evaluation and the SDGs.

It will feature real-… Read More

Language : English (Spanish material may be available)

Trainers:

  • Thania Paola de la Garza Navarret (Independent Consultant for MDBs)
     

Brief Description:

Some of the toughest challenges in establishing and sustaining M&E systems are often not visible at the design stage. This workshop addresses these challenges by focusing on using incentives to strengthen National M&E Systems through responsive evaluation.

Participants will explore how incentives can create an environment that supports M&E system sustainability. The session… Read More

Language : Chinese

Trainers:

  • Xin Xin Yang (UNICEF)
  • Qiming Liu (China Agricultural University)
  • Chuanhong Zhang (China Agricultural University)

Brief Description:

This workshop aims to boost Chinese officials' skills and leadership in planning and conducting evaluations to support the evidence base for informed decision-making. It also seeks to assist in the building of an evaluation culture among participants and create a network of professionals for sharing best practices and mutual support. 

The focus will be on applying… Read More

Logistics

Date: 14-18 October 2024

Venue: Hyatt Regency Bejing Shiyuan, Yanqing District, Beijing

The Yanqing District of Beijing is 90 km north-west of central Beijing, approximately 1.5 to 2 hours from the city center, 2 hours from Beijing Capital Airport, and 3 hours from Daxing International Airport. Shuttle buses will be available to transport participants from their arrival airport to the conference venue.

Hotel reservation information will be shared in September.

NEC area map
Resource
Participants
Anish Pradhan
Richard Jones
Evaluation Advisor
UNDP IEO
Jin Zhang
Evaluation Specialist
UNDP
Anish Pradhan
United Nations Development Programme
Megan Cooke
Evaluation Analyst
The World Bank
Silvestre Gonzalo GOMEZ MELAZZINI
Chief of section, Knowledge and Data Management
UNDP
Iben Hjorth
Communications Analyst
Anish Pradhan
IT
UNDP
Fumika Ouchi