Evaluation Forum in ECA region

The Bishkek Evaluation Forum 2025 took place from 18–21 November in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, uniting evaluation professionals, decision-makers, academia, VOPEs, private sector actors, and young and emerging evaluators from across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. 

The four-day event opened with a dedicated workshop on Evaluation in the UN for young and emerging evaluators, led by Dr Saltanat Rasulova (UNDP in Europe and Central Asia), who guided participants through UN evaluation norms and standards, the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) and human-rights principles, evaluation design, and programme-theory approaches — including a close look at the UNDP Five-Factor Framework for LNOB. 

Days two and three of the Forum featured capacity-building sessions and thematic discussions on institutionalising evaluation in Central Asia, strengthening national evaluation systems, innovation and AI in evaluation, youth participation, regional exchange, the role of academia, and evaluation for sustainable development and climate action, with contributions from UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, EBRD, CGIAR, and regional experts. A dedicated training on Responsible AI in Evaluation, facilitated by Kai Rompczyk (DEval Institute), helped participants understand where AI can add value and how to apply it responsibly and in line with evaluation standards.

The Forum closed with a fourth day dedicated to training decision-makers, where government and municipal officials from across Kyrgyzstan strengthened their practical skills in monitoring and evaluation for the public sector. Facilitated by international evaluation consultant Bridget Dillon, the session covered the fundamentals of M&E in public administration, designing national M&E systems, developing realistic M&E plans, and fostering a culture of learning and accountability within institutions.

 Organised by EvalYouth ECA together with UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, and EBRD, the Forum highlighted the strength and growth of the evaluation community in Central Asia — combining youth capacity-building, thematic learning, and public-sector engagement to advance evidence-informed governance and inclusive evaluation practice across the region. #BishkekEvaluationForum2025