Global National Assessment Capabilities Conference will be held in China for the first time
In an interview held in Beijing on October 11, Tian Lin, the Director of the Supervision and Evaluation Division of China’s National International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), shared details about the upcoming 2024 Global National Evaluation Capacity Conference. This event, a collaboration between CIDCA, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Global Evaluation Initiative, will take place in Beijing’s Yanqing District from October 13 to 18. Notably, this marks the eighth gathering under this conference framework and the first time it will be hosted in China.
During the press briefing, Tian announced that the conference will revolve around the theme, “Responsive Evaluation: Supporting Government Decision-Making, Promoting Inclusivity and Harmony, and Leading Future Development.” The agenda includes an opening and closing ceremony, one Chinese plenary session, three general sessions, and 21 thematic forums, as well as a two-day specialized training workshop. Keynote addresses will be delivered at the opening ceremony by Xiao Jie, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, and Achim Steiner, Administrator of the UNDP. The event is expected to attract over 500 representatives from more than 100 countries, including government officials, international organizations, and think tanks.
Tian highlighted that following the opening ceremony on October 14, there will be a Chinese plenary session focused on “Evaluation in Support of Chinese Modernization.” He emphasized that this session reflects the unique characteristics of China and underscores China’s contributions to the conference agenda. The session is expected to be highly authoritative, covering a wide range of relevant fields and showcasing significant expertise.
Tian explained that the Global National Evaluation Capacity Conference was established by the UNDP in 2009, focusing on the evaluation of public policies by countries and governments. Its aim is to gather diverse strategies, tools, and practical experiences in public policy evaluation to enhance evaluation capabilities and collectively advance the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. To date, the conference has successfully convened seven times and achieved significant outcomes.
Mossil, Director of the UNDP Independent Evaluation Office, added that the conference will emphasize the establishment of evaluation systems, with the goal of leveraging evaluation to create a more sustainable, equitable, and just future.
