The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the New Development Bank (NDB) played an active role in the 10th anniversary edition of the Asian Evaluation Week (AEW), held from 1-4 September 2025 in Xi’an, China.
On 1 September, IEO hosted a high-level panel titled “Smart Moves for a Greener Future” that examined how climate-resilient infrastructure investments can advance low-carbon, inclusive and crisis-resilient development. Drawing on evidence and lessons from multilateral organisations and government institutions, the discussion considered how evaluation can inform the design of infrastructure that both mitigates risk and delivers sustainable benefits for communities.
On 2 September, Mr. Ashwani K. Muthoo, Director General of IEO, joined an eminent panel consisting of heads from the Evaluation Cooperation Group (ECG) of the Multilateral Development Banks on “The Power of Process: Inclusive Evaluation as a Catalyst for Transformation”. Chaired by Dr. Indran A. Naidoo, Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s Independent Office of Evaluation (IFAD-IOE) and Chair of the ECG, the session brought together Dr. Emmanuel Jimenez from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Dr. Véronique Salze-Lozac’h from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and Dr. José Efraín Deras from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI). The discussion explored how, while safeguarding independence, evaluation can foster constructive dialogue with stakeholders, enabling institutions to generate actionable insights and strengthen organisational capabilities through more inclusive processes.
On 4 September, IEO, in partnership with the Centre for Evidence-Based Social Science (CEBSS) at Lanzhou University in China, co-hosted a technical workshop on “Strengthening Evaluation Systems in the Global South: Methods and Experiences from NDB and its Development Partners”. This highlighted innovative approaches — from real-time and crisis-responsive evaluations to the local adaptation of global standards — and the integration of cost-effectiveness and impact assessments into strategic planning.
AEW draws over 400 participants annually, fostering collaboration and advancing effective evaluation to support sustainable development worldwide.
For more information and links to the different sessions, please visit the official AEW website.