Overview
The Independent Evaluation Department (IED) independently and systematically evaluates ADB policies, strategies, operations, and special concerns that relate to organizational and operational effectiveness. By doing so, it contributes to achieving development effectiveness of ADB operations by providing evaluation feedback on performance, and generating and disseminating evaluation lessons.
There are two levels of evaluation in ADB:
- self-evaluation, conducted by those responsible for designing and implementing a country strategy, program, or project
- independent evaluation undertaken by IED
Mandate
IED’s mandate is to undertake evaluation activities to help ADB Management and developing member country stakeholders who are responsible for planning, designing, and implementing projects and programs to understand whether resources have been well spent, and whether the planned outcomes have been achieved.
Vision
Recognized as an influential authority on accountability and evaluation knowledge driven by the principles of impact, excellence, and teamwork.
History
Originally known as the Post-Evaluation Office, the Independent Evaluation Department (IED) was established in 1978 to evaluate ADB operations. Over the years, IED has undergone several organizational changes, culminating in the establishment, on 1 January 2004, of an independent department reporting to the Board of Directors through the Development Effectiveness Committee (DEC). In 2008, about 5 years after IED became independent, a further review of IED’s independence and effectiveness was undertaken. Following the 2008 review, OED was renamed the Independent Evaluation Department (IED) to reflect its enhanced independent status. IED’s current functions, priorities, and procedures are embodied in the provisions of the 2008 Board paper on the review of the independence and effectiveness of OED.
Evaluation independence
To be credible and to provide an objective performance assessment, the evaluation function must be independent from project or program design and implementation. To fulfill its mission effectively, IED develops and sustains a reputation for excellence by following the principles of independence, impartiality, and integrity. Drawing on the good practice standards of evaluation agencies, IED has recognized and adopted four dimensions of evaluation independence:
- Behavioral autonomy
- Organizational independence
- Insulation from external influence
- Avoidance of conflicts of interest
Procedure
The Board appoints IED's Director General upon the recommendation of the DEC, in consultation with the ADB President. ADB's Management responds to evaluation findings and recommendations. ADB Management's responses and the DEC Chair's Summaries of Discussions are appended to evaluation reports and disclosed as they become available.
Avoiding of conflict of interest
To avoid conflict of interest, IED evaluators and management exclude themselves from evaluating or approving a report on any project/program/activity/entity that they worked on, appraised, or had decision-making or approval responsibility for in a previous capacity, or when they expect to have such involvement in the future. Similar care is also taken in the selection of consultants.