Addis Ababa: The 25th Anniversary of the African Evaluation Association (AfrEA) will take place from 16-18 June 2025, in Addis Ababa, marking a significant milestone in its journey of capacity building and knowledge exchange.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, in a joint media briefing today, the Ethiopian Evaluation Association, the Ministry of Planning and Development, and the African Evaluation Association (AfrEA) described the event as an opportunity to acknowledge AfrEA’s achievements, celebrate its contributions to African development, and chart a course for the future.
The anniversary will be celebrated under the theme ‘Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence in Africa-Rooted Evaluation: Building a Stronger Future Together’. Organized in collaboration with the Ethiopian Evaluation Association, the Ministry of Planning and Development, and various other key stakeholders, the event will convene more than 300 participants.
During the event, government officials, evaluators, policymakers, and development experts are expected to reflect on AfrEA’s transformative impact on monitoring and evaluation in Africa. State Minister of Planning and Development Tirumar Abate highlighted the event’s significance in advancing capacity building and emphasized the crucial role of strengthening institutional capacity.
The event will include a grand opening that reflects on AfrEA’s legacy and future direction, along with the launch of the ‘Handbook on Made in Africa Evaluation’. AfrEA President Miche Ouedraogo stated that the event will be instrumental in reflecting on achievements, strengthening national systems, and discussing future prospects crucial for fostering evaluation.
Evaluation experts from around the world are gathering to celebrate AfrEA’s 25th anniversary and share their respective experiences. Ethiopian Evaluation Association President Dereje Mamo asserted that the event will be vital for sharing best practices and pivotal in capacity-building endeavors.
AfrEA was founded in 1999 in response to Africa’s growing appeal for advocacy, information sharing, and advanced capacity building in evaluation.