Independent Office of Evaluation, International Fund for Agricultural Development
IOE evaluates IFAD-funded policies, strategies and operations to promote accountability and learning. The main purpose is to contribute to improving IFAD's and its partners' performance in reducing rural poverty in recipient countries. In identifying key insights and recommendations drawn from evaluation findings, IOE also communicates and shares IFAD's knowledge and experience in agriculture and rural development with a wider audience.
IOE's evaluation is based on a coherent set of evaluation methods and processes, documented in the Evaluation Manual, which aims to ensure consistency, rigour and transparency across independent evaluations with the view to enhance IOE's effectiveness and the quality of its work. First issued in 2009, the Manual was revised and republished in December 2015.
The Office's annual work programme and budget is presented directly to the Executive Board for approval during the latter's annual December session. It summarizes IOE's objectives and priority areas for a given year and contains a detailed list of the evaluation activities to be undertaken. It also defines the human and financial resources required to implement the annual work programme.
In December 2015, IOE published The Evolution of the Independent Evaluation Function at IFAD, which traces the history of IFAD's evaluation function since 1978, summarizing some of its major contributions to improving accountability and learning for better performance.
IOE also manages IFAD's independent evaluation ratings database and an interactive map to provide an easy and quicker access to nearly 200 evaluation reports released from 2003.
Also visit and subscribe to IOE's YouTube channel.
Last updated: November 2016
Yes, the Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE).
IOE reports directly to the IFAD Executive Board, as per the Evaluation Policy. The Executive Board has a standing Evaluation Committee to assist it in considering evaluation issues.
IOE prepares and submits its work programme and budget directly to the Executive Board for approval.
The Director of IOE is at the same level as other senior division directors (equivalent to D-2 rank positions at IFAD).
The Director is invited to participate in the meetings of the IFAD Management team, with all other division directors and senior management, which is held 2-3 times in one year. The Director and the Deputy Director are permanent observers in the Operational Management Committee.
IOE has unrestricted access to IFAD staff and records.
1 Director
1 Deputy Director
11 Evaluators (3 Senior Evaluators; 6 Evaluation Specialists, 1 Evaluation Konwledge and Communication Officer; 1 Evaluation Research Analyst)
1 Administrative Assistant
1 Assistant to Director
1 Assistant to Deputy Director
3 Evaluation Assistants
The IOE Director has the authority to make all personnel and operational decisions concerning IOE staff and consultants in accordance with the Evaluation Policy and IFAD rules and procedures. All IOE staff are IFAD staff members and are covered by IFAD's personnel policies and practices.
The appointment of the Director is for a single, non-renewable period of six years. The Director of IOE is not eligible for re-employment as staff within IFAD at the completion of his/her tenure. The procedures for the appointment, renewal and removal of the Director IOE are defined in the IFAD Evaluation Policy. In sum, the Director is appointed by the Board upon the recommendation of the Evaluation Committee. IFAD President is consulted in the process.
There are no limitations on the tenure of IOE staff, which follow standard IFAD HR policies and procedures. They are also eligible for rotations within the organisation and can apply for positions in any division of the Fund.
Around 35% of the 2014 budget was devoted to hiring consultants to implement the IOE annual work programme.
Two staff from operations.
Prepared independently by IOE including consultations with the management. It is reviewed by the Evaluation Committee and submitted to the Executive Board for approval. The Board is responsible for approving the work programme, whereas the Governing Council approves the Budget.
, IOE is now validating 100 per cent of project completion reports. IOE also undertakes Project Performance Assessments (PPAs) following PCRVs. About 30% of PCRVs are followed by PPAs.
IOE undertakes project, country programme and corporate-level evaluations. IOE also produces Project Performance Assessments, Impact Evaluations and Synthesis Evaluations on selected topics.
Evaluations are selected during the formulation of the IOE work programme based on a selectivity framework and approved by the Executive Board. Country programme evaluations are undertaken before the preparation of new country strategies, whereas corporate-level evaluations are done to inform new corporate policies, strategies and processes.
Costs for individual evaluations vary. However, IOE has general cost estimates for the different types of evaluation (project, impact , country programme, synthesis, and corporate-level evaluations).
The Executive Board has decided that the IOE budget is capped at 0.9 per cent of IFAD's annual programme of work. The IOE budget for 2015 is 0.53 per cent of the projected programme of loans and grants.
6-point scale
Yes, from 1-6 (1 is lowest and 6 highest)
Under Review
Under Review
All evaluation reports are disclosed to the public and are made available on the web-site of the independent office of evaluation, in accordance with the Evaluation Policy and IFAD's disclosure policy.
All evaluation reports are disclosed to the public and are made available on the web-site of the independent office of evaluation, in accordance with the Evaluation Policy and IFAD's disclosure policy.
All evaluation reports are disclosed to the public and are made available on the web-site of the independent office of evaluation, in accordance with the Evaluation Policy.
IFAD Policy on the Disclosure of Documents (2010) can be found on http://www.ifad.org/gbdocs/eb/100/e/EB-2010-100-R-3-Rev-1.pdf. see also page 15-16 of the evaluation policy http://www.ifad.org/pub/policy/oe.pdf
All evaluation reports and the ARRI are available on IFAD's website. They are also published on IFAD regional networks and selected evaluation networks. Dissemination is primarily done through electronic media. However, IOE may provide print copies of evaluation reports upon request.
In addition, evaluation Profiles (summaries) are published for selected evaluations. Insights devoted to one key learning theme are produced for higher-plane evaluations. Profiles and Insights are brochures of around 800 words each, and aim to reach a wider audience to raise attention to lessons learned and stimulate further debate among development practitioners and others.
IOE introduced impact evaluations as a new product in 2013.
None
A report is considered complete when the report-writing and review phase is finished. Timing of disclosure is not yet officially defined by policy.
US$20, 000 for cross-divisional activities + budget included in specific evaluations
1 full-time staff; 1 temporary professional officer (since 2014), 1 consultant
• Project completion report validations: 2 months
• Project performance assessments: 7 months
• Country programme evaluations: 12 months
• Corporate-level evaluations: 12-14 months
• Annual Report on Results and Impact of IFAD Operations (ARRI), produced once a year
• Synthesis Reports: around 6 months
• Internal peer review within IOE
• External peer review by senior independent advisers for all higher-level (country and corporate level) evaluations has been introduced in 2009
• Report sent to operations for comments
• Report sent to the governments for comments
• Final learning workshop (in- country for country-level evaluations) organised by IOE with the main stakeholders to discuss key findings, lessons and recommendations from evaluation
• Discussion of selected evaluations in the Evaluation Committee and Executive Board
• Discussion of evaluation Synthesis Reports at in-house learning events/workshops.
All evaluation reports including the Agreements at Completion Point are disclosed to the public at the completion of the evaluation process and disseminated widely through electronic media in accordance with the Evaluation Policy and IFAD's disclosure policy.
The names of the IFAD lead evaluator and the consultants on the evaluation team are disclosed at the beginning of each evaluation report (as of 2008).
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