History

Evaluation at the African Development Bank dates back to 1977; however, the first evaluation unit was not set up until 1980, when a special division was created within the Bank’s Research and Planning Department. This division became an evaluation office in 1987, and a department in 1995, although it was not until 2002 that its mandate was defined by a Presidential Directive. Finally, in 2007, the Boards of Directors approved the Independent Evaluation Policy and Functional Responsibilities of the Operations Evaluation Department.

Key milestones in the creation of the Bank’s Evaluation Department are presented below:

• 1980: The first Evaluation Unit  is set up within the Research and Planning Division
• 1987: the unit becomes an Operations Evaluation Office, reporting to the President
• 1993: The Board of Directors assumes oversight of the evaluation function through the General Audit Committee
• 1995: Evaluation Office is upgraded to a Department reporting to the Board of Directors and and administratively to the President
• 1996: The Department is placed under the umbrella of the newly created Committee on Operations and Development Effectiveness
• 2002: The function of the Department is reviewed and a Presidential Directive emphasizing the Department’s reporting relationship to the Board and defining its mandate is issued
• 2007: The Board of Directors approves the Independent Evaluation Policy and Functional Responsibilities of the Operations Evaluation Department.
• 2007: The Board of Directors adopts a resolution defining the employment conditions of the Director of the Operations Evaluation Department.