Forging more partnerships to strengthen M&E in PH – NEDA, UNDP

Forging stronger partnerships is a vital component of the culture and practice of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in the Philippines.

This was National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan’s main message in his keynote address during the 10th M&E Network Forum  on Wednesday, November 29, 2023.

Jointly organized by NEDA and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the 10th M&E Network Forum aims to complement and showcase the Philippines’ initiatives and contributions towards cultivating a community of practice in the Monitoring and Evaluation sector. It was attended by more than 200 M&E practitioners from the public and private sectors, non-government organizations, and the academe from all over the country.

“The M&E Network Forum is not just a gathering; it is a force for collaboration and transformation, making significant strides in the field of Monitoring and Evaluation in the country,” said Secretary Balisacan in his address.

With the theme “A Decade of Collaboration: Charting the Path forward through Partnerships in M&E,” the discussions and presentations highlighted the country’s milestones in M&E and current initiatives in the local and national levels. They included  eight impact evaluation studies implemented by different NEDA Regional Offices in partnership with State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

Secretary Balisacan said NEDA initiated a capacity-building activity early this year, in collaboration with UNDP, to build confidence among regional offices in conducting impact evaluations from proposal writing to actual implementation.

“The results of these studies will be used as inputs in updating  the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028,” Secretary Balisacan, added.

The  forum and capacity-building program are part of the NEDA and UNDP Strategic Monitoring and Evaluation Project (SMEP) which seeks to strengthen government agencies’ ability to track the performance of programs that are relevant to  the targets of the  PDP and the Sustainable Development Goals.

“UNDP takes great pride in its collaboration with NEDA to bolster M&E capacities since 2018. It is our privilege to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to this enduring partnership and to our shared mission to advance the culture of evaluation in the Philippines,” UNDP Philippines Resident Representative Selva Ramachandran said in his message.

Prior to the national forum, NEDA also organized four inter-island M&E Network Fora in Iloilo, General Santos, Baguio, and Laguna from October to November 2023 to increase participation and ensure representation from all regions and sectors.

“The next decade will undoubtedly introduce new issues that will require fresh solutions. This is where partnerships become not just valuable, but indispensable,” added Secretary Balisacan.