AfrEA President Visits UNICEF Regional Office in Dakar, Senegal

The President of the African Evaluation Association (AfrEA), Dr. Miché Ouédraogo, was warmly received at the UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) in Dakar.

During the high-level visit, Dr. Ouédraogo met with Dr. Souraya Hassan H., UNICEF’s Regional Evaluation Adviser, and her team. The meeting marked a significant step in the ongoing collaboration between the two organizations, with fruitful deliberations focused on advancing the practice and impact of evaluation across the continent.

Key Themes: Capacity, Youth, and Local Context

The discussions centered on several strategic pillars essential for the future of development in Africa:

• Strengthening National Evaluation Capacities: Enhancing the systems and skills necessary for rigorous, country-led evaluations.
• Investing in the Future: A strong commitment to supporting Young and Emerging Evaluators (YEEs) to ensure a sustainable pipeline of talent.
• Promoting #MadeinAfricaEvaluation: Championing frameworks and methodologies that are rooted in African contexts to boost development impact and accountability.

Spotlight on New Publication: Made in Africa Evaluation Handbook

A highlight of the visit was the presentation of Volume 1 of the “Made in Africa Evaluation” (MAE) Handbook. This landmark publication represents a collective effort to decolonize and indigenize evaluation practice.

The handbook (available in e-Pub and PDF formats) offers theoretical and practical guidance for evaluators working within the African context.

A Shared Vision for Transformation

AfrEA extends its sincere gratitude to UNICEF for its continuous support. This partnership is vital to our collective efforts to sustain African Evaluation Excellence and to shape a future where evaluation is not just a technical exercise, but a driver of genuine transformation across the continent.