CLEAR-LAC Advances Regional Monitoring and Evaluation at EVALAC 2024
In November, the Center for Learning on Evaluation and Results for Latin America and the Caribbean (CLEAR-LAC) played a key role at EVALAC 2024, a major regional event organized by the Office of Oversight and Evaluation of the Inter-American Development Bank (OVE-IDB) dedicated to strengthening monitoring and evaluation (M&E) capacities across Latin America and the Caribbean.
EVALAC 2024 brought together experts, government officials, and organizations in Guatemala from November 11 to 15. This second edition of the regional event, building on the momentum of last year's inaugural gathering in Panama, fostered collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity building in M&E practices through CLEAR-LAC's partnership.
Led by Executive Director Cristian Crespo, Director of Evidence Use Shantal Aragón, and Evidence Use Specialist Catalina Zagal, the CLEAR-LAC delegation trained M&E delegates from Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru, and Guatemala, while also participating in discussions and organizing two working groups to drive regional collaboration.
Mr. Crespo led training courses on “Designing Indicators for Monitoring and Evaluation” and “National M&E Systems and Evaluation Planning,” while Ms. Aragón facilitated two sessions: “Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation” and “Qualitative Methods for Evaluation.”
In parallel, Martha Kluttig, CLEAR-LAC Director of Development, took part in a virtual session discussing the Annual Meeting of the Evaluation Capacity Development Network (ReDeCA), a forum bringing together evaluators from regional banks and development agencies. Ms. Kluttig highlighted the network's goals and plans, as well as CLEAR-LAC’s commitment to collaborating from a technical and strategic perspective to foster ReDeCA’s growth in the region.
CLEAR-LAC also hosted two roundtables where representatives from Mexico, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Peru exchanged best practices and challenges in strengthening M&E systems. Discussions focused on institutional frameworks, legal reforms, and balancing autonomy with evaluation use, while also exploring emerging trends such as gender, environmental, and participatory approaches. Additionally, CLEAR-LAC participated in the Steering Group meeting for Guatemala’s National Monitoring and Evaluation System (SINSE) to review 2024 progress and discuss collaboration opportunities for 2025.
“We need each other to strengthen M&E systems in our countries and take the culture of evaluation to the next level. Together, we reach further,” said Mr. Crespo at the closing session.
Ms. Aragón also emphasized EVALAC’s role in fostering regional cooperation. “This event has been an inspiring opportunity, not just to learn from colleagues in the region, but also to strengthen ties with governments eager to improve their M&E systems," she said. "It’s the ideal space to exchange best practices and reaffirm that M&E is being championed across Latin America and the Caribbean.”