Manila, Philippines— Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) are transformative tools that can help ensure that the government’s policies and programs are effective and responsive to the needs of Filipino people, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said during the 11^th M&E Forum held on Monday (December 16) in Pasay City.

The forum, organized by NEDA in collaboration with the Australian Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), brought together over 300 representatives from government, civil society, the academe, and development partner institutions. The event aimed to strengthen local M&E capacity, showcase recent M&E initiatives, and foster a culture of evidence-based decision-making within the public sector.

With the theme, “Closing the Loop: Towards M&E Evidence-based PDP Midterm Updating,” the forum highlighted the role of M&E insights in supporting critical policy processes, including the midterm review and updating of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.

In his keynote address, NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan emphasized the importance of strengthening systems that support M&E in order to realize its full potential as a tool for progress and development. He mentioned the need to empower the public sector to conduct evaluations competently and use evidence confidently to drive decisions. More broadly, strengthening systems entails embedding a culture of evaluation within the bureaucracy so that evidence-based thinking becomes the norm.

 “There also exists the need to deepen our engagement with all stakeholders. M&E is most effective when it reflects diverse perspectives, draws from collaborative efforts, and is grounded by the realities at the grassroots,” added Secretary Balisacan.

UNDP Resident Representative Selva Ramachandran added, “The journey of M&E is not just about accountability; it’s about creating a world where every decision is grounded in evidence, and every project delivers transformative results.” 

Australian Ambassador HK Yu echoed the importance of partnerships and collaboration in fostering a robust evaluation culture within the government and reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to supporting the Philippines. “Monitoring and evaluation is yet another area where both our countries, as we grapple with this very important topic, can work together and learn from each other,” said Ambassador Yu.

The forum, which aims to advance the integration of evidence into decision-making, featured sessions showcasing national M&E studies with direct policy implications for the PDP midterm review and updating. Other sessions focused on strengthening and institutionalizing M&E systems across sectors. It also provided a platform for leaders and stakeholders to discuss ongoing efforts, explore potential collaborations, and build partnerships to institutionalize M&E in governance further. 

Since its launch in 2011, the annual gathering has been a cornerstone in cultivating a vibrant M&E community of practice. The 11th M&E Network Forum was made possible through the Strengthening Evaluation for Evidence-Based Development (SEED) Project, supported by the Australian Government and jointly implemented by NEDA and the United Nations Development Programme. [E]