Do you think the Guidelines respond to the challenges of evaluating quality of science and research in process and performance evaluations?

On February 27 and 28, 2023, I attended a workshop in Rome, Italy about the CGIAR’s Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES)’s new set of evaluation guidelines. These build on the CGIAR Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC)’s Quality of Research for Development (QoR4D) Frame of Reference, and provide the framing, criteria, dimensions, and methods for assessing QoR4D – both within CGIAR, and in other like-minded organizations. The hybrid online and in-person event was designed to help practitioners across and beyond the CGIAR system to understand and apply the new guidelines in their own evaluative contexts.

I found the workshop informative, resourceful and impactful. The main lessons learnt/takeaways for me from the workshop were:

• Improved evaluation processes to assess the success and effectiveness of quality of science to provide evidence for policymaking;
• The value of exchange of skills/experience between facilitators and participants for a particular evaluation project;
• Sharing and documenting best practices, drawing on the knowledge and experience of IAES;
• The development of  working ‘standards’ or principles to ensure effective engagement with donors and relevant actors; and
• Supporting and advocating for public funding opportunities and supporting government by identifying where we can build capacity for effective innovation support and how we can effectively monitor and evaluate publicly funded projects.

One challenge remains: how to apply the QoR4D for evaluating contribution to the SDGs

I will use my takeaways from the workshop in my next book chapter entitled Nature-based solution to preserve the wetlands along the critical zone of River Nyong as well as in my MSc lecture.

Dr Norbert Tchouaffe
Pan-African institute for Development
Cameroon