CGIAR: Strengthening Management Response Systems in Times of Change
Webinar | Online
About the Event
A robust Management Response (MR) System is essential for ensuring that evaluation recommendations lead to concrete actions and improvements. Recognizing this, the Evaluation Function of the CGIAR Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES) released two reports in 2024-2025: a benchmarking study and a review of CGIAR MR system.
In this session, presenters will outline the approach, methodology, and key recommendations from the CGIAR MR system review, showing how the review team has conducted a highly engaging approach with key stakeholders to foster ownership and acceptance of the results. The reviewers assessed the system’s effectiveness and efficiency in promoting timely, evidence-based decision-making, and alignment with the organization’s 2030 Strategy. They examined how well the system supports learning, accountability, and strategic adaptation across the CGIAR system.
In addition, the results of a benchmarking study which mapped MR systems across a range of multilateral and development organizations will be presented. Drawing on guidance from MOPAN and the United Nations Norms and Standards for Evaluation (NORM 14), the study explored best practices in oversight, structured follow-up, and tracking mechanisms to support evaluation uptake. The findings provided a comparative foundation for CGIAR’s own system, helping to shape the Terms of Reference and inform the methodology of the subsequent internal review.
The session will conclude with a Q&A, encouraging the audience to discuss how these approaches to monitoring, accountability, and learning can be applied in other organizations.
In this session, presenters will outline the approach, methodology, and key recommendations from the CGIAR MR system review, showing how the review team has conducted a highly engaging approach with key stakeholders to foster ownership and acceptance of the results. The reviewers assessed the system’s effectiveness and efficiency in promoting timely, evidence-based decision-making, and alignment with the organization’s 2030 Strategy. They examined how well the system supports learning, accountability, and strategic adaptation across the CGIAR system.
In addition, the results of a benchmarking study which mapped MR systems across a range of multilateral and development organizations will be presented. Drawing on guidance from MOPAN and the United Nations Norms and Standards for Evaluation (NORM 14), the study explored best practices in oversight, structured follow-up, and tracking mechanisms to support evaluation uptake. The findings provided a comparative foundation for CGIAR’s own system, helping to shape the Terms of Reference and inform the methodology of the subsequent internal review.
The session will conclude with a Q&A, encouraging the audience to discuss how these approaches to monitoring, accountability, and learning can be applied in other organizations.
Speakers
| Name | Title | Biography |
|---|---|---|
| Ibtissem Jouini | Senior evaluation manager, IAES, CGIAR | Before joining CGIAR, Ibtissem Jouini served as a Regional Evaluations Specialist at FAO, where she managed decentralized evaluations and designed capacity development activities. Prior to this role, she led multiple independent evaluations and studies. Her professional journey also includes substantial contributions to International Development Organizations and Foundations. In these positions, she operated either as M&E or Program Manager for various national, regional, and global projects. She actively participates in several evaluation associations. She leads the working group on the professionalization of evaluation at the Asociación Ibérica de Profesionales Evaluadores, and she is a member of the European Evaluation Society, and the MENA Evaluators Network. She holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Evaluation from the Saarland University, Germany, and another master's degree in microbiology from the Faculty of Sciences of Tunis and Pasteur Institute, Tunisia. |
| Ahmedou Abdallahi | Senior Evaluation Expert | A Senior Evaluation Expert with 14 years of experience, Ahmedou specializes in development evaluation, encompassing public policy and program evaluation, public sector governance, and financing for development. His professional background includes roles in government administration, investment banking, management consulting, international financial institutions, and UN technical agencies. He holds a Master's in Finance and Strategy from Sciences Po, Paris, and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from New York University. Fluent in Arabic, English, and French, he has worked in six countries and led evaluation missions in over 40 countries across Africa and the Middle East. |
| Marta Maria Molinari | Evaluation Research Analyst - IAES, CGIAR | An Evaluation Analyst Consultant with the CGIAR Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES), where she has worked since 2023. She recently contributed to the 2024 Science Groups Evaluations as a research analyst within the RAFS Science Group Evaluation team, providing real-time feedback and recommendations to help align CGIAR’s portfolio with its 2030 Strategy and support evidence-based decision-making. Prior to CGIAR, Marta served as a Junior Evaluation Analyst at the Office of Evaluation (OED) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), where she led data collection and portfolio analyses for country and thematic evaluations, including SDG14. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science for Cooperation and Development (Sapienza University of Rome), a Master's in Development and International Cooperation Sciences (Roma Tre University), and a second-level Master's in Development Economics and International Cooperation (Tor Vergata University). Marta’s academic path included international exchange programs in Sweden and Argentina, enriching her global perspective. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian. |