CLEAR-FA Equips Ivorian Parliamentarians with AI Skills to Strengthen Policy Evaluation

From May 19 to 21,2025, the Center for Learning on Evaluation and Results for Francophone Africa (CLEAR-FA), an implementing partner of the Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI), organized a strategic capacity-building workshop in Abidjan for Members of Parliament and Senators in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. 

Held in partnership with the Independent Development Evaluation at the African Development Bank (IDEV-AfDB), UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO), and IDinsight, the training aimed to equip Ivorian legislators with tools to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into public policy evaluation, with an emphasis on safeguarding the rights of children, adolescents and young people. 

This initiative aligns with national efforts to institutionalize evaluation and highlights the importance of Parliament’s role in evidence-based governance. Over three days, 59 participants received training on AI fundamentals, its ethical and legal implications, and its practical applications in analysis, synthesis and decision-making support. Sessions included tool demonstrations—such as Notebook LM, ChatGPT, and Claude AI—and participatory simulations tailored to the policy environment in Côte d’Ivoire. 

“We are entering a new era where data and smart technologies are transforming our operational approaches,” said Karen Rot-Münstermann, General Evaluator at IDEV-AfDB. “In the field of evaluation, AI enables faster and deeper data analysis, modeling complex scenario and identification of inefficiencies, and forecasting of public policy outcome... used ethically, inclusively, and responsibly, [AI] can become a powerful instrument for strengthening our evaluation systems. It can assist us in more rapidly identifying gaps and directing policies toward more targeted and effective solutions.” 

CLEAR-FA designed and facilitated the workshop using a contextual and participatory approach, balancing technical instruction with practical exercises. Small group work fostered peer learning and built confidence among participants in applying AI tools within their legislative functions. 

The training concluded with the co-development of a roadmap for the ethical and gradual integration of AI into parliamentary workflows. This outcome reflects a growing recognition of technology’s role in strengthening democratic accountability and advancing human rights-sensitive evaluation. 

“Artificial intelligence... is not an end in itself but a powerful tool,” said Mr. Kra Paulin Kouassi, President of the Public Policy Evaluation Commission in Côte d'Ivoire. “It invites us to rethink our traditional analytical methods, to cross-reference multiple data sources, and to more finely detect the differentiated impacts of policies... However, for this transformation to be inclusive, ethical, and sustainable, it requires that we, as parliamentarians, are all trained, informed, and sensitized.” 

By bridging digital innovation with public service, CLEAR-FA is reinforcing its commitment to capacity development and inclusive evaluation systems across Francophone Africa.