AfrEA President Calls for a New Era of African Evaluation at 15th EEvA AGA

“A nation that evaluates is a nation that learns, adapts, and advances.”

These words, delivered by Dr. Miché Ouédraogo, President of the African Evaluation Association (AfrEA), set the tone for a pivotal moment in African governance this week. Speaking at the 15th Annual General Assembly of the Ethiopian Evaluation Association (EEvA), held from 14 to 15 October 2025, Dr. Ouédraogo outlined a bold vision for the future of development in the region.

Under the theme “Accelerating Ethiopia’s Development: Strengthening National Evaluation Capacities,” the assembly brought together key stakeholders to discuss how evidence-based governance can drive tangible progress.

A Unified Ecosystem for Development

While celebrating Ethiopia’s existing leadership in evidence-based governance, Dr. Ouédraogo emphasized that the next step requires breaking down silos. He called for a coordinated institutional framework where three critical components operate as one cohesive ecosystem:

• Planning bodies
• Monitoring agencies
• Oversight institutions

Professionalization and Accountability

Dr. Ouédraogo stressed that for evaluation to be effective, it must be credible. This requires the professionalization of evaluators, grounded strictly in ethics, independence, and technical excellence.

Furthermore, he advocated for a shift in national culture—one where accountability is not just a top-down mandate, but a demand from the bottom up. He envisions a society where citizens actively demand evidence and help co-create public policy.

A powerful message from the intervention was the call to reframe the purpose of evaluation itself. Dr. Ouédraogo highlighted that evaluation should not be a tool for sanction or punishment, but rather a catalyst for transformation. Ethiopia is positioning itself as a continental model for how African nations can own their data and their future.