In Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 17th to 19th September, the Global Parliamentarians Forum for Evaluation (GPFE) organized a three-day event, EvalColombo2018, which aimed to : 1) promote the demand and use of evaluation by parliamentarians through dialogue and exchange; and 2) generate innovative approaches to addressing this issue at a global level.
Guided by the theme of Responsible Parliaments: Embracing Evaluation for Agenda 2030, the event attracted 105 parliamentarians from 70 countries, as well as international agencies, professional evaluation associations (VOPEs), civil society organisations and other stakeholders from across the globe, committed to evaluation, to dialogue on developing stronger monitoring and evaluation frameworks, evidence based decision-making and accountability in the government.
A four-member delegation from the African Parliamentarians’ Network on Development Evaluation (APNODE) was among the more than 40 African participants at the forum. APNODE’s delegation included: a) Hon Evelyn Mpagi-Kaabule, APNODE Vice Chairperson and former Member of Parliament, Uganda; b) Hon. Jérémie Adomahou, APNODE Executive Committee Member and Member of Parliament, Benin; c) Hon. Hannatou Barkiré, APNODE Member and Member of Parliament, Niger; and d) Hon. Thokozani Khupe, APNODE Member and former Member of Parliament, Zimbabwe.
At EvalColombo2018, APNODE members contributed meaningfully to the forum’s deliberations, drawing on their invaluable experiences and nuanced understanding of the role of parliamentarians within the African setting. Their views and insights were also vital during the ‘Exchange of Experiences’ sessions on Days 1 and 2. Noteworthy was Hon. Evelyn Mpagi-Kaabule’s participation as a panelist in the session titled ‘Evaluation for the Executive and the Legislature’ where, together with other parliamentarians, she discussed how pressures from the side of the executive and legislature differ and influence evaluation.
Hon. Evelyn Mpagi-Kaabule’s efforts were also acknowledged at the GPFE Awards night, where she was one of four individuals, and the only African, recognized with an award for her contribution to the advancement of the GPFE and to the Global Evaluation Agenda.
At the closing ceremony, APNODE was again thrust center stage during a panel on the ‘importance of evaluation’ where Hon. Mpagi-Kaabule highlighted the centrality of evaluation in Africa parliaments. In her remarks, Hon. Mpagi-Kaabule emphasized the significant role APNODE has, and continues to play, on the African continent in the drive to convince parliamentarians to utilize as well as demand evaluation and evaluative evidence to inform decision- and policy-making. She further used the platform to encourage African participants present to join the Network, touting APNODE’s capacity development, learning, and experience sharing opportunities and possibilities as being invaluable.
The three-day event concluded with participating parliamentarians pledging their commitment to a way forward in the Colombo Declaration.