The importance of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in the area of development is widely acknowledged and may be understood from its two major objectives, i.e. learning and accountability. M&E is a crucial ingredient in the move towards more evidence-based iterative policy-making and implementation (learning) and, in hands of non-governmental actors, M&E functions as an instrument of accountability. However, establishing well-functioning country-owned M&E systems and arrangements is considered a major challenge (see e.g. the annual Paris Declaration Monitoring Surveys). One of the actors which has largely been neglected in this context, so far, are National Evaluation Societies (NES) or Voluntary Organizations for Professional Evaluation (VOPE). NES/VOPE are organizations which bring together M&E practitioners and experts from different settings (government, NGO, parliament, universities, donors) and which can play an important role in strengthening national M&E capacities and use of M&E.

Against this background, this ECD seminar aims to bring together leading evaluation experts who are already members of National Evaluation Societies or commit to become active members to strengthen those evaluation societies in taking up the role of developing national M&E capacities and use. More specifically, this seminar will enable 25 evaluation experts to become driving forces in strengthening their national M&E systems and their own evaluation societies.

​Practical information about the programme

• ​Promotors: Nathalie Holvoet & Sara Dewachter
  
• Location of training programme: Antwerp, Belgium
• Start and end date: 30 September until 14 October 2024
• Deadline for application: 7 April 2024
• Target group: Evaluation experts from the government sector, civil society, parliament, donor agencies, academia
• Targeted number of participants: 25 participants (20 scholarships funded by the Special Evaluation Office)