Asian Evaluation Week in Asia-Pacific: an overview
Asian Evaluation Week is an annual regional series of events designed to strengthen evaluation practice, policy and evidence use across the Asia-Pacific. It brings together government policymakers, national evaluation offices, international donors, civil society organizations, academics and independent evaluators. The Week fosters dialogue, shares methodologies, and builds capacity to ensure evaluations contribute to better decision-making and progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Purpose: why the Week matters
The primary purpose of Asian Evaluation Week is to promote a stronger, more coherent evaluation ecosystem across Asia-Pacific. Specific aims include:
Key objectives
- Facilitating knowledge exchange on evaluation methods and standards, including innovations in mixed methods, digital data collection and evidence synthesis.
- Strengthening national evaluation systems so governments can track policy effectiveness, improve service delivery and meet reporting requirements for the SDGs.
- Building professional capacity among evaluators through training, peer-to-peer learning and mentorship opportunities.
- Promoting the use of evaluation findings by policymakers and stakeholders to improve program design and resource allocation.
- Connecting evaluation practice with equity, inclusion and gender-responsive evaluation approaches to address local priorities.
Partners and stakeholders: who is involved
Asian Evaluation Week is typically organized in partnership with a range of institutions that support evaluation across the region. Partners often include:
Main partner types
- Regional bodies and networks, such as Asia-Pacific evaluation associations and intergovernmental organizations.
- National governments and national evaluation offices that host sessions and showcase country-led reforms.
- International development agencies and multilateral banks that fund evaluation initiatives and share lessons from large programs.
- Academic institutions and research centers that present methodological advances and evaluation studies.
- Non-governmental organizations and civil society groups that highlight community perspectives and participatory evaluation methods.
Collaboration among these partners ensures that the Week addresses policy-relevant questions while promoting capacity development and knowledge sharing across diverse contexts.
What the event covers: themes and session types
The program typically spans a range of thematic areas and practical formats. Sessions are curated to meet the needs of both technical specialists and policymakers looking to apply evidence. Common coverage includes:
Thematic tracks
- Evaluation for Sustainable Development: linking evaluations to SDG monitoring and national development plans.
- Methods and innovation: advances in impact evaluation, quasi-experimental design, qualitative methods and data visualization.
- Systems and governance: how to strengthen institutions, national evaluation policies and legal frameworks.
- Inclusive and gender-responsive evaluation: approaches that center marginalized groups and measure equity impacts.
- Use of evidence in policymaking: translating findings into actionable recommendations and improving uptake.
Session formats
- Plenary panels and keynote talks that set strategic directions and highlight regional priorities.
- Technical workshops and training clinics for hands-on skills development.
- Case study presentations and lightning talks that share country experiences and lessons learned.
- Networking roundtables and partnership-building sessions to identify collaborative projects.
Who benefits and why attend
Asian Evaluation Week is valuable for multiple audiences. Policymakers gain practical tools to measure program impact. Evaluators access new methods and peer review. Donors and development partners find harmonized approaches that improve accountability. Civil society participants amplify community-driven evaluation priorities.
Attendance offers practical takeaways: improved evaluation design, clearer paths for institutional reform, new partnerships for regional initiatives, and exposure to lessons that accelerate SDG progress.
Conclusion
Asian Evaluation Week in Asia-Pacific is a strategic forum that advances evaluation practice, strengthens systems and fosters partnerships. By combining technical training, policy dialogue and collaborative learning, the Week supports evidence-informed policymaking across diverse countries and sectors. For organizations and professionals committed to improving public outcomes, participation provides both inspiration and concrete tools to make evaluations more useful, equitable and action-oriented.