Regional Centers for Evaluation Capacity Development

1

• Regional Centers for Evaluation Capacity
  Development
• A Multilateral Initiative
• June 2009

2

Context The Demand for Evaluation Knowledge is
Increasing

• Policy and budget reforms
• Decentralization, PRSP monitoring, results-based
  budgeting
• Demand for
• Transparency
• Accountability
• Information relevant for decision-making
• Paris Declaration
• Managing for results
• Mutual accountability
• Accra Agenda for Action use of country systems

3
The Supply of Relevant Evaluation Capacity
Development (ECD) Services is Inadequate

• Current supply mostly limited to
• Formal training
• Short-term programs
• Expensive international programs
• Some ME and RBM network initiatives in regions,
  but need for more in-country and regional
  support
• Demand for
• In-service and applied programs tailored to
  specific needs
• Cost-effective options for diverse audiences
• parliaments, public sector agencies, civil
  society
• Range of training and knowledge-sharing
  modalities
• Training of trainers

4
The Initiative Regional Centers for ECD

• A five-year multilateral partnership to
  strengthen the capacity of existing institutions
  to provide ME learning and knowledge services

• One center (one institution or a consortium of
  institutions) each in sub-Saharan Africa, East
  Asia (currently existing), Latin America, and
  South Asia selected on a competitive basis
• Possible expansion within regions in later years

5
Benefits of a Regional Approach

• Relevance
• Attention to country contexts and language
• Cost-effectiveness
• Local services cost less than external services
• Scaleable
• Multi country participation train-the-trainer
  models
• Flexible
• Ongoing peer-to-peer learning
• Regional synergies on measuring results
• Collaboration with other initiatives (e.g.,
  statistical capacity building, communities of
  practice)
• Donor coordination

6
Program Modalities and Content

• Modalities
• Long- and short-term courses and workshops
• E-learning tools
• Technical assistance
• Peer-learning
• Communities of practice
• Content
• Technical topics ranging from monitoring and
  results-based-budgeting to impact evaluation
• Applications of evaluation findings for policy
  and program design
• Design and use of monitoring and evaluation
  systems

7
Partners and Their Roles

• Host governments and institutions
• Government commitment
• Demand for capacity building
• Contributions (in-kind and financial)
• Host institutions regional outreach,
  recognition, and experience
• Development agencies
• Financial support
• Technical assistance
• Catalytic role for channeling demand
• Co-branding of training and knowledge products

8
Governance Structure

• Board of Donors and Partner Countries (seven
  members)
• Overall strategy
• Decisions regarding selection of centers
• Annual program reviews, audits, evaluations
• Regional Advisory Committees (7-8 members
  professional community, governments, donors)
• Advice to centers
• Secretariat (housed at World Bank initially)
• Day-to-day functioning of the partnership
• Implementation of strategy
• Quality assurance
• Preliminary selection of regional centers

9
Funding for Initiative

• Total of approximately 28 million for five years
  (cash and in-kind)
• 3.2 M for the first year (2009-2010)
• 1.5-2M cash per year expected from donors (IDB,
  DfID, AfDB, IFAD, others)
• 500K expected from Banks development grant
  facility for first year (DGF support expected for
  3 years)
• 800K per year confirmed from Bank units (IEG,
  WBI, regional units)
• In-kind contributions from institutions/host
  governments
• Income from ME services (generated by centers in
  later years)
• Take in-depth stock after five years to assess
  continuation and enhance self-sustainability

10
Implementation Plan

• Stage I April December 2009
• Finalize governance (Board and Secretariat)
  arrangements August
• Select centers in Africa, Latin America, and
  South Asia based on a competitive process
  November
• Develop website and communications strategy
  June
• Stage II January December 2010
• Launch the centers January
• Global learning event April
• Expand Board and establish Advisory Councils
  April
• Review progress December

11
Thank You

• www.worldbank.org/ieg/ecd