Updated: Monday, November 01, 2004 03:05 PM

Les Journées francophones de l’évaluation

Paris, les 16 et 17 septembre 2004

CES at Les Premières journées francophones de l'Évaluation

The Agence intergouvernementale de la Francophonie (AIF) is an agency formed by the Organisation intergouvernementale de la Francophonie, made up of 51 states and countries which share the French language. The leaders of member states and countries meet every two years.

Following direction from the last Summit of leaders of the Francophonie, the Program and Evaluation Directorate of the AIF has been at work on developing a network of Francophone evaluators from their respective states and countries. The Program and evaluation Director, Jack Batho along with Isabelle Sannié have been at work during 2004 on three objectives:

-Promote the development of monitoring and evaluation of public programs in southern hemisphere countries, especially in relation to the New partnership for Africa's development (NEPAD)

-Improve networking among Francophone evaluators and their associations, especially increased access to professional development

-Increase francophone presence at a variety of national and international evaluation organisations such as the International Organisation for Cooperation in Evaluation (IOCE), the International Development Evaluation Association (IDEAS) and the African Evaluation Association.

The AIF meeting held in Paris September 16 and 17, 2004, was entitled "Les premières Journées de l'évaluation".

The goal of the two-day meeting was to facilitate exchange among representatives of Francophones working in evaluation. Papers prepared in advance by the participants were distributed to those attending the meeting. Among some of the highlights of the discussions:

The common presentation by the CES and SQEP representatives entitled Développement de la Société canadienne d'évaluation et de la Société québécoise d'évaluation de programme.

The expressed will of the participants to form an informal network of Francophone evaluators.

The Web site in development by the AIF Program and Evaluation Directorate.

The very dynamic website of Réseau nigérien de Suivi et Évaluation .

The link between the Program Evaluation Standards and the African Evaluation Association .

The discussion and proposals for action regarding the reinforcement of capacities in evaluation and the establishing of an informal network of evaluators.

CES and SQEP offered to facilitate access to French resources in evaluation. news editor: Jim Cullen