Coming This November: IPDET’s First Evaluation Training Program in Africa

The International Program for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET), one of the flagship programs of the Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI) and a globally recognized initiative for building evaluation capacity, is coming to Africa for the first time. From November 3 to 7, Nairobi, Kenya will host this landmark event, bringing together evaluators and practitioners from across the continent and beyond.

The Nairobi training is a collaborative effort between IPDET, the Lifelong Learning Center at the University of Bern, and the Center for Learning on Evaluation and Results for Anglophone Africa (CLEAR-AA), a GEI implementing partner. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening evaluation systems worldwide while ensuring that African voices, contexts, and priorities are central to global evaluation conversations.

A key feature of this year’s program is its focus on equity and access. A total of 60 scholarships have been awarded to African evaluators from both government and non-governmental institutions. These scholarships remove financial, geographic, and institutional barriers, enabling participants to take part in the training. By prioritizing diversity and inclusion, the organizers are ensuring that both emerging and experienced professionals from across Africa—and beyond—can enhance their skills, share perspectives, and contribute to building a stronger, more representative evaluation community.

Organizers highlighted the importance of expanding access to high-quality evaluation training.

“One of the concerns we’ve always had about evaluation capacity development is whether we are providing enough opportunities for people in the global south to access training and professional development of the kind of quality that is provided at IPDET,” said Dr. Candice Morkel, Head of Program at IPDET.

“Hosting IPDET in Nairobi marks a pivotal moment for the African evaluation community. By bringing world-class training to the continent, we are not only building capacity but also amplifying local voices in global development conversations,” said Dr. Taku Chirau, Acting Director of CLEAR-AA.

The decision to host IPDET in Nairobi reflects Africa’s growing role in shaping evaluation practice and the continent’s vibrant community of evaluators, including numerous Voluntary Organizations for Professional Evaluators (VOPEs). The training provides a unique opportunity to learn from international faculty while contextualizing insights for African realities—bridging global best practices with local solutions.

Participants can look forward to an immersive week of core courses designed to strengthen technical knowledge and advance the professionalization of evaluation. By bringing IPDET to Nairobi, the organizers aim to create a transformative space for collaboration, dialogue, and impact—strengthening connections between Africa and the global evaluation community and advancing evidence-informed decision-making across the continent.

For more information, visit the IPDET website. Registration is open until October 3, 2025