International Program for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET) 2025: Lighting New Paths in Global Evaluation and Learning 

From July 7 to 18, the International Program for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET) held its flagship on-site training program at the University of Bern, Switzerland. This year marked IPDET’s 24th anniversary and the 8th time the program was hosted in the Swiss capital. Thirty participants from 20 countries attended the core course, while 25 participants from 23 countries joined specialized workshops—creating a vibrant learning community of professionals representing multilateral development banks, the United Nations and other bilateral and multilateral organizations, government ministries, agencies, non-governmental organizations, and independent evaluators. 

The opening session set the tone for the two-week program. Professor. Dr. Virginia Richter, Rector of the University of Bern, emphasized the university’s commitment to global learning and inclusive development. Dugan Fraser, Program Director of the Global Evaluation Initiative (GEI), highlighted IPDET’s evolving role in strengthening national evaluation systems. Dr. Christina Cuonz, Director of the Lifelong Learning Center (LLC) at the University of Bern stressed the value of the partnership between the LLC and IPDET as part of a lifelong learning journey. Dr. Candice Morkel, Head of IPDET, shared her vision for “IPDET 3.0”—a new chapter focused on regional relevance, innovation, and collaborative partnerships for greater impact. 

“IPDET is not a one-off training course: it’s the beginning of a lifelong learning journey,” said Dr. Morkel. “This year, we’ve embarked on a transformational change process to expand IPDET’s reach, lighting new candles of learning partnerships across the Global South.” 

After more than two decades of welcoming over 4,000 evaluators—first in Canada, and for the past eight years in Bern—IPDET is now stepping boldly into a new phase. In November, IPDET will deliver its first-ever regional program in Nairobi, Kenya, followed by a collaborative offering in Morocco, in partnership with École nationale d'administration publique (ENAP). Additional regional initiatives are in development, symbolically sharing the IPDET light with new audiences in the Global South. 

The core course, led by Dr. Morkel, Dr. Claudia Maldonado, and Matodzi Amisi, provided foundational evaluation knowledge through lectures, peer learning, and real-world evaluation examples. The second week offered a range of workshops on topics ranging from quantitative impact evaluation and climate change, artificial intelligence (AI) in evaluation, and evaluation design. Sessions were delivered by experts such as Claudia Maldonado, Silva Feretti, Estelle Raimondo, Santiago Tellez, and a team from the German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval). 

Participants emphasized the value of this mix of theory and practice. “The great thing about IPDET is it tries to make the learning experience very practical,” said Eduardo Abello, Advisor at the Independent Evaluation Department of the Asian Development Bank. “The experiences from various participants around the world and learning about their local context provided more of a practical spin to some of the more theoretical elements that we learned in the classroom.” 

Others highlighted the power of peer learning. Dana Kochieva, Junior Professional at the Independent Evaluation Office of the New Development Bank, reflected: “You should get to know your community because your peers are the people who you learn from. They give you new ideas and new perspectives and therefore help you to think outside of your own patterns.” 

Learning extended beyond the classroom, with participants connecting through cultural events, a World Exhibition, and a group hike to Schynige Platte. These moments fostered community and deepened the spirit of collaboration that defines IPDET. 

This year’s program also reflected the complex context in which evaluators work. Many participants came from or worked in regions directly affected by conflict, climate change, hunger, and displacement—contexts where evaluation can provide essential evidence for better decision-making. 

“Evaluation, if done well and used well, can change the way policies are made and resources are invested,” said Dugan Fraser. “IPDET plays a critical role in building the skills needed to make that change possible.” 

IPDET’s mission is to equip evaluators with the tools and confidence to influence decisions, shape policies, and help ensure that investments lead to meaningful improvements in people’s lives and the health of the planet. As participants returned to their home countries, they carried with them not only new knowledge but a renewed commitment to evidence-based decision-making and transformational impact.