IEO participated in EvalFest 2026, a biennial flagship event organised by the Evaluation Community of India (ECOI) in partnership with the Institute of Social Studies Trust (ISST), EvalYouth India, and Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi. Held in New Delhi, India from 10–13 February 2026, the event focused on the theme “Evaluation in Complex and Evolving Contexts: Harmonizing Youth, Innovation, and Impact.”
IEO Director General Mr. Ashwani K. Muthoo delivered a keynote address during the inaugural session, highlighting the role of evaluation as a strategic tool for accountability, learning, and institutional strengthening. He emphasized the importance of moving beyond compliance-driven approaches and promoting rigorous, participatory, and forward-looking evaluation practices that better inform decision-making and enhance development impact.
IEO also convened a plenary panel titled “Advancing Context-Led Evaluation and Collaborative Learning for Impact: Insights from the NDB Independent Evaluation Office and Peers.” The discussion brought together representatives from multilateral development banks and national evaluation systems to explore how evaluation can better reflect country contexts while maintaining analytical rigor. Panellists discussed strengthening the use of evaluation evidence in operational decision-making, improving feedback throughout project implementation, and enhancing collaboration between independent evaluation offices, operational teams, and national counterparts.
The session contributed to broader dialogue within the global evaluation community on advancing context-responsive, learning-oriented evaluation approaches and strengthening cooperation across institutions in developing economies.