The Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE), in collaboration with the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt and IFAD’s Near East, North Africa, Europe and Central Asia Division (NEN), organized a virtual national workshop for the Arab Republic of Egypt Country Strategy and Programme Evaluation (CSPE), as a final step in the evaluation process.

The virtual event took place on 17 February 2025, from 10.00 to 12.30 EET, Cairo time (09.00 to 11.30 CET, Rome time). It entailed the participation of representatives of the Government, development partners, civil society organizations, private sector partners, research institutions and IFAD senior management and staff.

The objectives of the workshop were to:

• discuss the main findings and recommendations emerging from the CSPE; and

• outline strategic priorities for IFAD’s future programmes in the country, in view of IFAD’s upcoming country programme.

The workshop also provided inputs for the evaluation’s agreement at completion point.

The workshop was divided into four sessions, all moderated by Mr Steven Jonckheere, Senior Evaluation Officer, IOE, except for the second one, which was moderated by Dr Kouessi Maximin Kodjo, Lead Evaluation Officer, IOE. The opening session was launched with welcome remarks by Mr Jonckheere. Ms Doaa Orabi, Financing Institutions, Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, delivered an opening statement. Dr Indran Naidoo, Director, IOE, gave an introductory statement. Dr Donal Brown, Associate Vice-President, Department of Country Operations, IFAD, pronounced a statement.

The second session comprised of a presentation, by Mr Jonckheere, of the CSPE’s main findings, conclusions and recommendations. This was followed by a lively Q&A session and, then, a fruitful panel discussion. The panel included Ms Amani Gamal ElDin, Country Programme Coordindator, World Food Programme; Mr Mahmoud AbdelHalim El Sayed, Director of International Cooperation, Central Sector at MSMEDA; and Gomaa Anwar, Head of Planning at the Desert Research Centre in Matrouh and M&E specialist of the PRIDE project.

During the third session, Mr Mohamed Abdelgadir, Country Director for Egypt, IFAD, shared reflections on the future direction for the Egypt country programme and strategy. This was followed by a statement by Mr Naoufel Telahigue, Regional Director ad interim, NEN, IFAD.

During the fourth and final session, Dr Naidoo delivered closing remarks, as did Dr Naeem Moselhy, Advisor for Follow-up and Evaluation and National Coordinator of the Pride Project.

Over 64 participants attended the workshop.