About IOB
Objectives
IOB's overall objective is to meet the need for independent evaluation in all fields of foreign policy. Specifically, the aim is to fit the results of the evaluations into the knowledge cycle of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The reports of the evaluations are used as feedback to improve both policies and their implementation. With the results of previous exercises at their disposal, policymakers can prepare new interventions more purposefully and more effectively.
Quality and independence
Parliament has always shown great interest in IOB's independent reports. On the basis of the reports sent to the Lower House, the minister gives a policy response. The Permanent Committee on Foreign Affairs then discusses the report and the policy response. The evaluation results are public and are used, for instance, by universities in their teaching.
Approach and methodology
IOB has a staff of specialists and its own budget. Given the growing complexity of policies and interventions, a multidisciplinary approach is required. This calls for evaluation expertise as well as specialist expertise in a large number of fields. For this reason IOB uses external consultants and specialists, whenever possible from the countries with which the Netherlands cooperates. This fits in with the policy of flexibilization and professionalization which IOB aspires to. For internal quality control, IOB uses reference groups of involved parties and external experts.
In order to compare evaluations, relevant studies are 'clustered' by policy theme. This makes it possible to draw main conclusions for policy making on the basis of a series of studies. This generates an important synergy effect, so that greater attention can be paid to the spearheads of policy: poverty reduction within development cooperation, "good governance" (i.e. the functioning of public authorities and civil society organizations in the countries concerned),
issues of international order and the promotion of Dutch interests abroad.
Major shifts
Since IOB was set up in 1977, major shifts have taken place in its approach, areas of attention and responsibilities. In the early years, IOB's activities consisted mainly of separate project evaluations. Around 1985, the focus shifted to the sector and theme levels, and now its work is conducted on the basis of clustered evaluations.
In 1996, there was a review of Dutch foreign policy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was reorganized. As part of the review, the name of the department was changed from Operations Review Unit (IOV) to IOB, and its sphere of activities was extended to cover all aspects of the Dutch government's foreign policy, in which development cooperation plays an important role.
Future-oriented thinking
This new package of activities will be further elaborated in the future. IOB also wants to increase the relevance of its evaluations for policy making and to heighten the impact of the results. Outside the field of development cooperation, IOB will undertake a growing number of evaluations in other policy areas, such as European integration. Within development cooperation, the aim is to expand cooperation with the evaluation services of other donors. And eventually the recipient countries themselves should evaluate the aid extended to them. This means that they have to acquire the necessary evaluation expertise and to manage the evaluations themselves: in short, evaluations have to become recipient-led. Donors and recipients have already taken first steps towards combined evaluations.
During IOB's history, there have been major shifts in the approach and methodology of the evaluations. What has remained unchanged over the years, however, is the strictly independent stance. Coupled with a meticulous approach and professional evaluations, this constitutes IOB's ultimate reason for existence.
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About IOB
