Ethiopia is set to strengthen its commitment to continental and international development agendas by seamlessly integrating them with its national plans, announced the Ministry of Planning and Development.
This declaration came as the 25th anniversary celebration of the African Evaluation Society wrapped up in Addis Ababa, a three-day event dedicated to enhancing evaluation practices across the continent.
Tirumar Abate, State Minister of Planning and Development, hailed the gathering as a resounding success, particularly in its capacity to host international guests and facilitate crucial discussions. He emphasized that the event achieved its core objectives: to bolster evaluation systems through capacity-building training, foster the exchange of national experiences, and strengthen cross-border cooperation.
During the forum, various nations showcased their unique evaluation systems. Ethiopia, in turn, presented its advancements in establishing a robust monitoring and evaluation framework. The nation highlighted its ongoing efforts to harmonize continental and global development blueprints with its domestic plans, underscoring the meticulous reporting, monitoring, and evaluation processes in place for their implementation.
Notably, Ethiopia's current 10-year development plan is a comprehensive document that interweaves the aspirations of Agenda 2063 with the Sustainable Development Goals. ENA reported that these integrated efforts are slated for continued reinforcement.
Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine, representing the African Union Chairperson, underscored the critical need for data-driven policy decisions and diligent monitoring across Africa to ensure societal benefit. He urged the African Evaluation Society to intensify its collaborative work on Agenda 2063 and called upon member states to prioritize capacity building.
Michelle Odira, President of the African Evaluation Society, concluded by affirming that the past three days witnessed productive discussions and events aimed at fortifying evaluation systems and fostering collaboration to enable informed policy-making throughout Africa.