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The Global Agenda 2016-2020, well defined, represents a well thought long term agenda for evaluation.   The key priorities for evaluation i.e., independence, capacity building and quality, partnerships and equity are well laid out within four main sections.  Of course there are some improvements to be done.   For example, the remark by Henrik Gudmundsson on the contradiction of “independent evaluation reporting to President or PM” is most accurate, and though I am a fervent supporter of the value of “equity focused and gender responsive”, the fivefold repetition in the agenda seems a bit overwhelming.  I would certainly add here “environmental sustainability” a few times as well.  As Riitta underlined, this is a missing element of the agenda, and a most important one in view of the increasing degradation of natural resources and its impact on human and animal beings.  And I also agree with Riitta when it comes to the private sector. As I noted in one of our Connections issues, “I am convinced that private sector evaluation will play a major part in the evaluation scene in a world of constrained fiscal resources.  Better evaluation of the risks associated with complex financial instruments and activities managed for quick returns has become imperative.” Private sector evaluation along with corporate social responsibility have become an increasingly important evaluation field, and while most development institutions have taken this into account, it still needs to be recognized and taken into account in all evaluation addresses. Our EES thematic working groups on Private Sector Evaluation and on Evaluating Sustainable Development have active working programmes aiming at advancing the share of these major sectors in evaluation deliberations.

The implementation of this ambition agenda will no doubt be a very complex process and will require the coordination of a myriad of actions disseminated around the world under the aegis of international development and financial institutions and with the involvement of multinational corporations.  Let’s hope that an inclusive and potent roadmap emerges from 2nd EvalPartners Global Forum in Nepal, but it is a long way to go and needs the contribution of all of us.

 

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