Pasig City, Philippines – The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) made a significant step towards institutionalizing evaluation practices and enhancing evidence-based decision-making within the government. From 25-27 November 2024, NEDA conducted a Training of Trainers (ToT) on Basic Evaluation at The Linden Suites in Ortigas, Pasig City. This program gathered NEDA staff from both central and regional offices to strengthen their capacity in designing, commissioning, and managing evaluations, as well as effectively utilizing results to inform policies and programs.

Supported by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and implemented through the Strengthening Evaluation for Evidence-Based Development (SEED) Project in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this training emphasizes a collaborative effort to cultivate a culture of evaluation within government institutions.

NEDA Assistant Secretary Agnes Tolentino highlighted the strategic vision of the ToT approach during her opening remarks, “The Training of Trainers approach empowers key personnel who will cascade their knowledge to colleagues across various offices and regions. This multiplier effect amplifies our capacity, builds technical expertise, and fosters an evaluative mindset throughout the organization.”

The ToT also marked the launch of newly developed evaluation modules aimed at enhancing competencies in designing, planning, commissioning, and managing evaluation studies. These modules, developed based on a training needs analysis, are specifically tailored to meet the requirements of the Monitoring and Evaluation Staff (MES) at the NEDA Central Office and the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Divisions (PMEDs) within the NEDA Regional Offices.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Edwine Carrié highlighted the significance of these modules: “These evaluation modules are not merely tools; they are building blocks for fostering a lasting culture of learning and accountability. As a readily available resource, it empowers government staff to institutionalize an evaluation culture that promotes transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement within the government.” 

A total of 34 participants successfully completed the three-day training program. Through the development of individual action plans, they committed to cascading their knowledge and integrating evaluation practices within their respective offices.

In his closing remarks, NEDA Assistant Secretary Roderick Planta emphasized the initiative’s long-term vision, “This training represents a significant milestone in our ongoing journey to institutionalize evaluation practices within Philippine governance. The action plans you have developed will serve as critical roadmaps, fostering collaboration and promoting data-driven decision-making in your respective offices and regions.”

The ToT reflects NEDA’s broader commitment to fostering a culture of evaluation and evidence-based governance through its Capacity Development Program on Impact Evaluation (IE). This flagship program, which has been implemented since 2023, focuses on building foundational skills through executive and technical training while providing hands-on support to regional offices in conducting impact evaluations.

NEDA’s partnership with UNDP and DFAT underscores the collaborative effort to promote good governance and enhance public service delivery in line with the country’s development goals.

For media queries, please contact: 

Charlene Erica Balaan, Communications Analyst

Charlene.balaan@undp.org

Chaiz Alliana Concepcion, Evaluation and Communications Associate

caconcepcion@neda.gov.ph 

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About the Strengthening Evaluation for Evidence-based Development (SEED) Project 

The SEED Project supports the Philippine government in enhancing its evaluative culture, promoting evidence-based decision-making, good governance, and accountability. SEED is supported by the Australian Government and jointly implemented by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the United Nations Development Programme in the Philippines (UNDP Philippines).

The Training of Trainers (ToT) on Basic Evaluation is also supported by the NEDA-UNDP Strategic Monitoring and Evaluation Project (SMEP). SMEP aims to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation capacities of NEDA and key government agencies, enabling them to support the implementation of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through evidence-based decision-making.