Regional Centers for Results Based Management and Evaluation Capacity Development:

1. Regional Centers for Results Based Management and Evaluation Capacity Development: A Proposed Initiative November, 2008

2. Context: The Demand for Evaluation Knowledge is Increasing • Policy and budget reforms in OECD and developing countries • 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 Evaluation Capacity Development (ECD) Services is Inadequate • Current supply limited to: • Formal training • Short-term programs • Expensive international programs • RBM and M&E network initiatives in regions, but need for more support • Demand for: • In-service and applied programs tailored to specific needs • Cost-effective, scalable options for diverse audiences • parliaments, public sector agencies, civil society • Range of training and knowledge-sharing modalities • Training of trainers

4. The Proposal: Regional Centers for RBM and ECD • Establish a multilateral partnership to strengthen the capacity of existing institutions • One center (one institution or a consortium of institutions) each in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America • Possible expansion within regions and to other regions in later years • Help centers provide demand-based results-based management (RBM) and evaluation capacity development (ECD) services for: • Generating performance information • Using information for improved decision-making

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 to results-based-budgeting • Evaluation findings and their applications • Design and use of monitoring and evaluation systems

7. Expectations from Various Partners • Expectations from host governments and institutions • Government commitment • Demand for capacity building • Contributions (in-kind and financial) • Host institution’s regional outreach, recognition, and experience • Expectations from development agencies • Financial support • Technical assistance • Catalytic role for channeling demand • Co-branding of training and knowledge products

8. Governance Structure • Advisory Board of Donors, Partner Countries, and Other Stakeholders • Overall strategy • Executive Committee • Decisions regarding selection of centers • Implementation of strategy • Quality assurance • Secretariat • Day-to-day functioning of the partnership

9. Funding Strategy • Expected funding needs of $2 million per center per year • Total of approximately $6 million per year: • $1-2M per year from 2-3 donors (IDB, DfID, others) • $250 - $500K per year from 3-5 donors (TBD) • $1M per year from Bank’s development grant facility (DGF) • $550K per year from Bank units • In-kind contributions from institutions/host governments • Income from M&E services (generated by centers in later years) • Total expected funding needs of about $30 million for 5 years

10. Where is the Process Now? • Presentation at Accra High Level Forum • Consultations with national authorities and academic institutions • Finalizing proposal for submission to DGF (December) • Addressing key issues • Selection of regional centers – designing criteria • Funding and operating mechanisms • Governance mechanisms • Sustainability

11. We welcome your suggestionsThank you www.worldbank.org/ieg/ecd