CLEAR South Asia Hosts Panel at Asian Evaluation Week 2023 on Evaluating SDGs

At the first in-person Asian Evaluation Week since the COVID-19 pandemic, CLEAR South Asia, a GEI Implementing Partner, hosted and moderated a panel discussion titled “Evaluating SDGs for the World We Want: Measurement, Innovations and Challenges.” Featuring expert M&E practitioners from government and multilateral organizations, the discussion explored the value and importance of monitoring and evaluating progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as 2030 rapidly approaches.

Evaluating the progress towards the 2030 agenda and the associated SDGs, targets and indicators is a “complex, multi-faceted process involving actors at the subnational, national, regional and global levels.” The session, moderated by Sohini Mookherjee (Senior Capacity Building Manager, CLEAR South Asia), examined the critical factors that need to be in place for monitoring and evaluating SDGs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Looking at successes, failures, best practices, tools, and innovations, the panelists shared their experiences engaging with governments towards "localizing" SDGs.

Panelists for the session included Mr. Dayyan Shayani, Statistician, UNESCAP; Ms. Sonia Chand Sandhu, Principal Evaluation Specialist, IED-ADB; Ms. Radhika Lal, SDG Finance Policy Advisor & Team Lead, UNDP; and, Mr. Akhilesh Kumar, Director, DMEO-NITI Aayog, India. Professor Sabina Alkire, Director, Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, addressed the panel and audience virtually. The panel, held on September 14, 2023, at the InterContinental Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand,was attended by approximately 100 Asian Evaluation Week participants.

Watch the session recording here.

Photo Credit: IED-ADB