Addis Ababa – 30 October 2015 – The Independent Office of Evaluation of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the UN agency specializing in rural development, will present the conclusions and recommendations of an independent evaluation of IFAD’s country strategy and programme in Ethiopia at a National Round-table Workshop, 5 November in Addis Ababa.

During the workshop, representatives from the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the Ethiopian Government and IFAD will discuss the key evaluation findings as well as how issues such small-scale irrigation, rural finance, community-based pastoral and natural resources management can contribute to reducing rural poverty. The findings of the evaluation and the discussions will constitute the basis to develop IFAD’s future work in the country.

Media are welcomed to cover the National Round-Table Workshop. The following IFAD staff will be available for interviews:

• IFAD Independent Office of Evaluation: Oscar Garcia, Director, and Pradeep Itty, Lead Evaluation Specialist and evaluator responsible for the Ethiopia Country Programme Evaluation.

• Sana Jatta, Director of IFAD’s East and Southern Africa Division, Han Ulaç Demirag, Country Programme Manager for Ethiopia (from Oct. 2015), Robson Mutandi, former Country Director (2010-2015) and now Country Director for Mozambique.  

Background information

The National Round-table is co-organized by Ethiopia's Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Independent Office of Evaluation of IFAD (IOE).

The workshop will entail the participation of representatives from the Government, IFAD management and staff, multilateral and bilateral development organizations, project management staff of IFAD-funded projects and programmes covered by the country programme evaluation, academics and research institutions, private sector and foundations, non-governmental organizations, and selected resource persons.

Prior to the workshop, journalists may join a field visit to the Amhara and Afar regions of Kombolcha and Chifra. The visit will offer an opportunity to see on-the-ground activities supported by the IFAD-funded Participatory Small-scale Irrigation Development Programme (PASIDP) and the Pastoral Community Development Project (PCDP). The visit will offer the IFAD delegation an opportunity to directly hold discussions with beneficiaries and their groups, project staff, state government officials and others. 

Media alert No: IFAD/09/2015

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1978, we have provided nearly US$17 billion in grants and low-interest loans to projects that have reached about 453 million people. IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency based in Rome – the UN's food and agriculture hub.

The Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE). IOE conducts evaluations of IFAD-financed policies, strategies and operations to promote accountability and learning. The main purpose is to contribute to improving IFAD's and its partners' performance in reducing rural poverty in recipient countries. IOE's independent evaluations assess the impact of IFAD-funded activities and give an analysis of successes and shortcomings – to tell it the way it is – as well as identify factors affecting performance. Based on the key insights and recommendations drawn from evaluation findings, IOE also communicates and shares IFAD’s knowledge and experience in agriculture and rural development with a wider audience.