H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat: We provide strategic guidance in the fields of monitoring, evaluation, and impact measurement in line with the National Sustainable Development goals.
H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation; Dr. Osama El-Gohary, Assistant to the Prime Minister and Head of the Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC); Dr. Ashraf El-Araby, President of the Institute of National Planning; and Dr. Marie Gaarder, Executive Director of the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), signed a cooperation protocol to establish the “Egyptian Observatory for Evaluation and Policy Making.” This aims to enhance and develop monitoring and evaluation systems and frameworks within government institutions and think tanks, ensuring their sustainability and effective application across various sectors, in support of evidence-based policy-making and its improvement, thereby contributing to increasing the efficiency of government programs, achieving tangible developmental impact, and enhancing economic and social welfare.
Al-Mashat stated that the protocol comes within the framework of the Ministry’s mandate as the central authority responsible for formulating, guiding, and following up on sustainable development strategies in Egypt, and ensuring their consistency with Egypt’s Vision 2030 through integrated planning frameworks, promoting evidence-based policy-making, and developing institutional capacities in cooperation with national entities and international development partners to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Al-Mashat explained that the Ministry is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the performance of long-term, medium-term, and annual sustainable development plans for all governmental entities, and providing technical support in the fields of monitoring and evaluation in accordance with Law No. (18) of 2022 on general planning for the state. The Ministry also carries out its existing responsibilities in “program and performance planning,” in addition to its role in preparing periodic reports to assess progress made in achieving Sustainable Development Goals. As part of its role in providing technical support to the state’s administrative apparatus, the Ministry has prepared the “Procedural Guide for Monitoring and Evaluation,” in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
H.E. added that, according to the protocol, the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation will provide strategic guidance in the fields of monitoring, evaluation, and impact measurement in line with national sustainable development goals, ensuring alignment between research and evaluation priorities and developmental priorities under Egypt’s Vision 2030, and cooperate with the Institute of National Planning (INP) to develop specialized training programs in monitoring and evaluation, as well as coordinate with other entities affiliated with the Ministry, such as the Egypt Impact Lab, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), and others and with various governmental entities to ensure the effective integration of the observatory’s activities and the “evidence-based evaluation and learning” methodology within the broader national framework for monitoring and evaluation.
The Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation also pointed out the rich agenda that includes anticipated laws such as the Planning Law and the Unified Public Finance Law, which require assessment of the impact of government policies in their implementation, in addition to continuing work on the structural reform program, which aims to achieve macroeconomic stability, increase competitiveness, and green transition, as well as ongoing initiatives such as the “Irada” initiative to assess the impact of legal reforms, and new strategies such as the industrial strategy.
For his part, Dr. Osama El-Gohary applauded the establishment of the lab which is considered one of the components of the "Government of the Future". He emphasized the importance of such labs in supporting policies, as they will have a significant impact on strengthening decision-making capabilities. He extended his special thanks to the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation for facilitating the process of finding international partners, ensuring professional outcomes and the commencement of joint work.
Dr. Ashraf El-Araby also commended the partnership with the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), confirming that it is a key partner in this protocol. He noted that there is a rich research agenda awaiting everyone, and that enhancing the research capacities of the state’s administrative apparatus is a main objective of the initiative, affirming the agreement among all parties to harness all resources to ensure its success.
Dr. Marie Gaarder expressed her happiness at this event, and reviewed her institution’s experience in evaluating policy impacts in many countries around the world, especially in Africa, confirming that this will assist decision-makers make informed decisions.
This governmental partnership with the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) comes as one of the most prominent international institutions specialized in supporting decision-makers through providing an integrated system of impact evaluation tools, benefiting governments, international organizations, donors, and charitable institutions, with the aim of promoting evidence-based work. The initiative has extensive cumulative experience in the production of research and evidence. It also offers specialized services in evidence-based policies and practices, contributing to enabling partners to design and implement more effective and efficient programs and ensuring the sustainability of their impact on economic, social, and developmental levels.
According to the cooperation protocol, the Information and Decision Support Center will work on maximizing the benefit from the results of evidence-based studies, impact measurement programs, and best international practices in proposing optimal recommendations to support decision-makers on various priority issues, proposing the research agenda, and identifying priority research gaps for preparing studies and research projects according to decision-makers’ visions, as well as hosting the Egyptian Observatory for Evaluation and Policy-Making, and contributing to the preparation of necessary research and studies by leveraging the expertise of researchers, academics, and specialists, in addition to holding a series of workshops, training programs, and initiatives.
The Institute of National Planning (INP) will undertake the implementation of research activities in various priority areas based on scientific evidence and best practices and leading international experiences, contributing to preparing research and studies, improving the quality of evidence-based research activities, and future foresight in line with national priorities and global trends. Additionally, it will develop specialized technical diplomas in the fields of monitoring, evaluation, and impact analysis (MEL) for employees in the state administrative apparatus, based on the institute’s expertise in designing and delivering professional diplomas and awarding master’s degrees, thus contributing to building and enhancing capacities and qualifying specialized personnel in planning at both central and local levels.
Meanwhile, the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation will provide reliable scientific evidence based on best international practices in impact evaluation, contribute to supporting training efforts according to international standards, and in partnership with reputable international academic institutions, support the use and organization of administrative data, and enhance the capabilities of those working in the field of scientific evidence utilization, in collaboration with the first, second, and third parties, as well as facilitate cooperation with international institutions, allowing access to best global expertise and practices and applying them in the local context.
It is worth noting that the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation is responsible, based on the Planning Law No. (18) of 2022, for monitoring and evaluating sustainable development plans, and providing technical support in the areas of monitoring and evaluation.