This event will feature a recently published book, Evaluating Environment in International Development, discussing why and how evaluation contributes to environment and sustainable development. Speakers include the book's editor, Juha Uitto, Director of the Independent Evaluation Office at the Global Environment Facility (GEF), two contributing authors Vijayalakshmi Vadivelu, Evaluation Adviser at the Independent Evaluation Office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Andy Rowe, economist and independent evaluator, as well as Arild Hauge, Deputy Director at the UNDP Independent Evaluation Office, who will serve as commentator.
Evaluating Environment in International Development provides novel and in-depth perspectives on the increasingly strategic area of climate change and development evaluation. Moving beyond projects and programs, it considers aspects such as evaluating normative work on the environment and evaluating environmental consequences of economic and social development efforts. It not only aims to stimulate the dialogue and learning process between practitioners and research, but also to provide an encouragement for social change, especially for the most affected people of climate and environmental change in the global South. As Nidhi Khattri (World Bank, Independent Evaluation Group) stated: "The book is a must read for anyone concerned about development and its effects on environment."