OREANDA-NEWS. October 06, 2008. A Working Group set up to review the independence and overall effectiveness of the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) operations evaluation function, has submitted its report to ADB's Board of Directors and Management.

The report reflects the views of the members of the Working Group in their individual capacities. It will be reviewed by the members of the ADB's Board and Management whose views will be taken into account by the Working Group which will then submit a revised policy on enhancing the independence and effectiveness of the Operations Evaluation Department for Board approval in December.

The Working Group was established by ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda in March to undertake a comprehensive review of the Operations Evaluation Department (OED). The objective was to review ADB's current arrangements for the operations evaluation function to assess its independence and overall effectiveness and recommend changes as necessary and appropriate.

The Working Group comprises three members of ADB's Board, Mr. Phil Bowen (chair), Mr. Howard Brown and Mr. Wencai Zhang and ADB Managing Director General, Mr. Rajat M. Nag. The WG report builds on the recommendations of a 5 September report by two external experts.

"The initiatives to further enhance the independence and effectiveness of ADB's evaluation function will place it at the forefront of international evaluation practice," said Executive Director Phil Bowen. "The Operations Evaluation Department will be independent of management, but it will not be isolated from the ADB's operations. It will be ideally positioned both to hold management accountable for results and to help Management improve the ADB's development effectiveness."

"ADB is committed to an independent, effective Operations Evaluation Department," said ADB President Kuroda. "ADB welcomes the report's findings and recommendations, and Management is committed to fully implementing the policy's recommendations, once approved by the Board."