Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025
I am Dr. Awuor Ponge, a Senior Associate Research Fellow at the African Policy Centre (APC). I also serve as the Vice-President of the African Evaluation Association (AfrEA). This week, I present a blog that highlights the AfrEA@25 Anniversary Celebrations in 2025, which marked a landmark gathering for Africa’s evaluation community, serving as both a celebration of historic progress and a launching pad for the continent’s future in evidence-based decision-making. Over the course of three days in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, government leaders, evaluators, youth, and partners reflected on AfrEA’s journey and collectively charted the way forward under the theme “Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence in Africa-Rooted Evaluation: Building a Stronger Future Together.” AfrEA@25 has set the stage for a more connected, robust, and contextually relevant evidence-enabling system – one that holds promise for truly transformative, accountable development across Africa.
A major theme was the push to make evaluation a governing principle rather than a technical afterthought. Government representatives from countries such as Ethiopia, Uganda, and Benin described bold steps: digitizing and institutionalizing evaluation systems, creating national evaluation councils, and enacting supportive legal and financial frameworks. Ethiopia showcased its integrated digital M&E system, while Uganda and Benin highlighted the role of cross-ministerial coordination in ensuring evaluation findings guide policy reform. All stakeholders agreed that political will, sustainable financing, and a culture of data use – not just compliance – are prerequisites for impactful systems.
Capacity building organizations featured prominently, addressing the supply side of evaluation expertise. Regional networks like Twende Mbele and initiatives such as the forthcoming African School of Evaluation (ASE), CLEAR-AA, Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI), are collaborating with governments and academia to create structured professionalization pathways. Francophone networks emphasized the need for systemic, not just individual, strengthening. Practical mentorship, certification, and context-adapted curricula were highlighted as essentials to ensure evaluators can effectively respond to real-world decision-making needs.
Speakers underscored the importance of closing the gap between the supply of evaluation expertise and the demand for evidence in policy-making. This means training must align with government needs, and policy leaders must model the use of evaluation findings in planning and budgeting. Multi-sector partnerships were recognized as accelerators, bringing together public officials, civil society, academia, and partners to harmonize standards, amplify capacity, and promote the routine integration of evidence into government actions.
AfrEA@25 also championed digital innovation and inclusivity, from adopting AI-powered M&E tools to advancing “Made in Africa Evaluation” methodologies. The launch of the “Handbook on Made in Africa Evaluation“ was a highlight, emphasizing evaluation methods rooted in African values and lived realities. Efforts to foster the meaningful participation of youth and women, and to address barriers such as funding gaps and lack of legal frameworks, were celebrated alongside calls for more robust and inclusive mentorship and professional pathways.
Prioritize inclusion and innovation: Embrace Afrocentric methods and digital tools; ensure youth, women, and marginalized communities are at the centre.
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