AfrEA Launches INCE Program to Boost Evidence-Based Policy across Africa

The African Evaluation Association (AfrEA) has unveiled a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening evidence-based policymaking and governance across the continent.

Through a newly launched training seminar, AfrEA is rolling out the National Evaluation Capacities Index (INCE), a tool designed to refine national evaluation systems and enhance data-driven decision-making for sustainable development.

Speaking at the two-day training session, AfrEA President Dr. Miché Ouédraogo emphasized the strategic importance of INCE in reshaping the way African countries design and implement development policies.

“With the introduction of INCE, we are taking a significant step towards embedding evaluation at the heart of policy and decision-making in Africa,” Dr. Ouédraogo stated. “This tool empowers countries to assess their evaluation systems, identify gaps, and implement targeted improvements. It’s a vital step towards ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective resource allocation.”

The INCE program, built on lessons from Latin America and grounded in extensive research and stakeholder engagement, uses a comprehensive 74-question survey to evaluate national systems. It offers a detailed assessment of strengths and areas for improvement in evaluation practices.

Dr. Audrey Amoah of Ghana’s National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) praised the initiative, highlighting its relevance in addressing systemic challenges.

“The INCE framework will help countries strengthen governance by identifying and addressing weaknesses in their evaluation mechanisms,” said Dr. Amoah.

“It also provides a foundation for institutionalizing a culture of evidence-based policymaking at both national and sub-national levels. We at NDPC are committed to partnering with AfrEA to advance this data-driven development agenda.”

Celeste Gianno, a senior consultant with Insight Latin America, stressed the importance of global collaboration in shaping effective evaluation tools.

“The success of INCE in Latin America shows the power of South-South cooperation,” Gianno noted. “By adapting best practices to the African context, this tool can serve as a catalyst for reform and progress.”

AfrEA’s launch of INCE marks a bold step in its mission to build evaluation capacity, facilitate knowledge-sharing, and strengthen cooperation among African nations—all in alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

The initiative underscores the growing consensus across the continent: sustainable development is only possible when policymaking is informed by solid data, robust evaluation, and a commitment to continuous improvement.