At the end of 1997, a discussion on the international nature of the evaluation function took place on Evaltalk, the electronic network of the American Evaluation Association (AEA).
One of the main themes discussed was the creation of a partnership between national M&E organisations. The group of the Transcultural and International Evaluations of the AEA (XC-EVAL) invited the presidents of nine national evaluation associations to take part in a round table during the AEA conferences in Chicago in 1998 and in Orlando in 1999 to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of such a partnership. An additional meeting was organized in Barbados in February 2000. Based on the Barbados meeting, it was decided to explore the constitution of a International Organization for Cooperation in Evaluation (IOCE).
In March 2003, the inaugural assembly of the IOCE took place in Lima (Peru) after years of efforts and concertations. Numerous representatives of national M&E networks and associations attended the event, as well as many international partners, such as the "Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie", UNICEF or the Kelogg Foundation.
Meanwhile, the World Bank and the
UNDPhave created the International
Development Association (IDEAS) an independent organisation which set itself
the mission to "advance and extend the practice of development evaluation
by refining methods, strengthening capacity and expanding ownership".
For additional information, please visit the IOCE website or contact: