The Program for Social Policy & Evaluation Research (PROSPER) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Public Policy (CPP) hosted a webinar highlighting the importance of evaluation institutionalization in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)  in support of the Global Evaluation Initiative’s (GEI) gLOCAL Evaluation Week.

Chaired by Dr. Anis Ben Brik, Associate Professor and Founding Director of PROSPER, the webinar - titled  “Shifting Gears: Accelerating Evaluation Institutionalization in MENA Region” - featured a panel of distinguished experts including His Excellency Dr. Halimé El Kaakour, Member of Parliament in Lebanon; Dr. Ahmed Ben Sheikh, Professor and Founding President of the Moroccan Association of Evaluation; Dr. Mohamed El-Fouly, Professor & Chair-Person, Egyptian Association for Evaluation; Mr. Ziad Moussa, Former Chair, EvalPartners; and Mr. Nashwan Ahmed, President of EvalYemen.

The panel explored the institutional structures and processes that shape monitoring and evaluation practices and the societal dissemination and acceptance of evaluations in the MENA region. The resulting in-depth discussion saw the panelists draw upon their perspectives to generate valuable insights and foster a knowledge exchange in this field.

Held from May 30 - June 2, 2023, the gLOCAL Evaluation Week is an esteemed event that brings together people and organizations from different regions and sectors to promote evidence-based policymaking, program development, and implementation. It is supported by the GEI’s network of experts and organizations that provide countries with the necessary support to enhance their monitoring and evaluation systems.

Speaking after the webinar, Dr. Anis Ben Brik said: “It was an honor to welcome our esteemed panelists to Doha to discuss regional approaches to monitoring and evaluation. Their presence at HBKU reflects the growing importance of PROSPER, both in terms of geographical reach and diversity of stakeholders interested in the scope of its work. We look forward to hosting further discussions and high-profile guests in the near future.”

HBKU’s CPP aims to become one of the leading public policy schools in the region and the world, providing a uniquely situated venue for public conversation in Qatar, and a center for teaching and researching responses to policy questions of local and global relevance. The College transcends borders to facilitate expertise and build capacity in Qatar and beyond.