Parliamentarians Forum on Development Evaluation in South Asia

Parliamentarians Forum on Development Evaluation is a collective of parliamentarians who are committed to development evaluations in SAARC countries. The Forum was initiated by a small group of parliamentarians aiming to establish National Evaluation Policies in SAARC region. It is managed by the “Core Team” which is represented by parliamentarians from each SAARC country. In February 2013 first ever parliamentarians panel presented three country experience (Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh) on enabling environment for development evaluation in respective countries at evaluation conference held in Kathmandu, Nepal. This was historical in parliamentarians giving a voice for national evaluation policies and promising commitment to realize it at country level. Based on the response on the panel, the three country parliamentarians decided to establish a forum with view of addressing the issue collectively at country levels. The Forum is now represented by parliamentarians from seven out of eight South Asian countries; Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Maldives is in the process of joining the Forum.

The goal of the Forum is to advance enabling environment for nationally owned, transparent, systematic and standard development evaluation process in line with National Evaluation Policy at country level which ensures aid effectiveness, achievement of results and sustainability of development.

Objectives of the Forum are:

National evaluation policies endorsed by the respective South Asian governments are in place and effective.
To create the space for dialogue between legislators and evaluation community.
Improved capacity of parliamentarians who are committed in development evaluation in the country.
Established country level performance measuring mechanisms in line with national evaluation policies ensuring results oriented and sustainable development.

This is first time in the history:

Parliamentarians organized as a formal group to work on development evaluation
Parliamentarians raise awareness on need for national performance evaluation mechanisms
Parliamentarians take the leadership to advocate for national evaluation policies

The Forum is currently working with Core Team of the Forum on development of country status reports identifying gaps on evaluation mechanisms currently in place, establishment of country parliamentarian teams, development of model national evaluation policy and raising awareness towards national evaluation policies. The Forum has been given an opportunity for a panel presentation on “Why National Evaluation Policies matter in South Asia” at Sri Lanka Evaluation Association (SLEvA) International Evaluation Conference which will be held from 24-25 July in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This will be a great opportunity to promote enabling policy environment through evaluation professionals.

Please join policy discussion on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Parliamentarians-Forumon-Development-Evaluation-in-South-Asia/310884062378855

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Email: [email protected]

Contact: Hon. Kabir Hashim, Core Team Leader, Member of Parliament – Sri Lanka [email protected]

Asela Kalugampitiya, Forum Coordinator [email protected]