The Independent Evaluation Unit (IEU) joined the 2025 Asian Evaluation Week in Xi’an, organized by the Asian Development Bank and the Ministry of Finance of China, leading and contributing to four sessions that highlighted the importance of evidence, evaluability, and learning in climate evaluation.

Beyond Metrics: Tools for Climate Project Success

Chaired by Yeonji Kim, this session featured presentations by Andreas Reumann, Booyoung Jang, and Michell Dong on evidence reviews, evaluability studies, and evaluation quality assessments. The discussion explored how these tools strengthen project design, enhance accountability, and promote institutional learning in climate evaluation.

Watch the session recording: Parallel Session 10 | Beyond Metrics

Climate Urgency, Access, and Paradigm Shift (World Café)

Facilitated by Andreas Reumann, this session focused on access challenges in climate finance and the factors that drive transformational change. Participants exchanged perspectives on how climate finance mechanisms can be made more inclusive, equitable, and effective in reaching vulnerable countries and communities.

Health, Water, Food Security and Well-being: Evidence for Resilient and Inclusive Growth (Joint with GEF)

Led by Yeonji Kim, this joint session with the Global Environment Facility highlighted findings from the IEU’s evaluation of health, water, food security and well-being interventions, along with a systematic review of water-sector projects. Michell Dong presented a LORTA impact evaluation case study from FP026 in Madagascar. GEF colleagues—Anupam Anand, Silke Heuser, and Kseniya Temnenko—shared evidence on nature-based solutions, chemicals and waste management, and technological innovation. Sven Harten (DEval) contributed perspectives from independent evaluation practice, enriching the discussion with broader institutional insights.

Watch the session recording: Parallel Session 12 | Environmental Evaluation Resilient and Inclusive Growth

Smart Moves for a Greener Future (NDB panel)

Andreas Reumann joined as a discussant on evaluating climate-resilient infrastructures, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based approaches in assessing infrastructure projects that support long-term sustainability.

Through its engagement at AEW 2025, the IEU showcased tools that enhance evaluability and project design, shared evidence on resilience and impact in the field, and joined global dialogue on access to climate finance and transformational change.