From October 13 to 18, 2024, the Global National Assessment Capacity Conference took place in Beijing. Jointly organized by the National International Development Cooperation Agency and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this conference brought together over 500 representatives from more than 100 countries and regions, including government officials, international organizations, and think tanks. The discussions focused on the theme of “Responsive Assessment: Supporting Government Decision-Making, Promoting Inclusive Harmony, and Leading Future Development,” as well as the establishment and application of robust assessment systems. Participants emphasized the need to enhance the sharing of assessment experiences between countries, strengthen capacity building, and utilize assessment outcomes to promote the development of strong national assessment systems.

**Promoting Global Development**

In a world beset by turmoil and global challenges, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development faces significant hurdles, highlighting the increasing urgency among nations for peace, cooperation, and development.

Zhao Fengtai, Deputy Director-General of the National International Development Cooperation Agency, remarked that public policy assessment is a crucial tool for countries aiming to improve governance and ensure that public policies are scientifically sound and effective. He expressed China’s commitment to actively promote international development cooperation in the assessment field under the Global Development Initiative, contributing to the United Nations’ “Future Contract” and the goals of the 2030 Agenda. Zhao also urged all parties to leverage this conference as an opportunity to heighten the emphasis on and investment in public policy assessment to energize global development efforts.

“To enhance the effectiveness of assessment work, the UNDP needs to foster ongoing multi-stakeholder dialogue, encouraging both assessors and those being assessed to share experiences,” stated UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner. “Collectively, we can improve governance capabilities through better management and assessment. This requires broader participation and the adoption of innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence and big data, which can open new possibilities for the development of assessment work.”

“Assessment is not just a tool; it is a key pillar of effective governance and a vital force for driving change,” emphasized Evelyne Huber, Director of the UNDP’s Independent Evaluation Office. She noted that the concept of “responsive assessment,” highlighted during the conference, calls for acknowledging the current international environment. This approach not only establishes a direct link between assessors and decision-makers but also involves implementers, civil society, and service recipients, paving the way for broader and deeper dialogue.

Noemi Nunes, Director of the Sustainable Development Division at the World Bank Independent Evaluation Group, suggested that to actively promote the assessment process, stakeholders must utilize new data, technologies, and methods to enhance the rigor and quality of evaluations. She also advocated for increased collaboration among countries and regions to accelerate the development of assessment capacities, ensuring that evaluations reflect the voices of those most affected by decisions.

**Addressing Climate Change**

Climate change is a global challenge that humanity must confront together. Building robust risk assessment systems for climate change and working collaboratively to address it is crucial for the future of our planet.

“Energy transition is a vital measure in tackling climate change, and accelerating the transition to green and low-carbon energy is a global consensus,” stated Tian Lei, Deputy Director of the Energy Economics and Development Strategy Research Center at the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research. To facilitate energy transition and achieve carbon neutrality goals, China has established an energy transition assessment model that conducts quantitative assessments covering all aspects of energy—from supply to consumption. The model’s analytical results support the evaluation of related policies, help refine policy focus, and optimize implementation measures, serving as a reference point for other countries in their energy transition assessments.

“Among the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations, those related to the natural environment form the foundation of all other goals,” noted Andy Rowe, former President of the Canadian Evaluation Society. “Environmental protection and social development should not be kept separate; they need to be interdependent. However, our current focus on the natural environment within evaluations is inadequate. To achieve the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, countries must adopt a more proactive and forward-looking approach to environmental impact assessments, allowing evaluation results to better guide responses to climate change and promote social and economic development.”

Camille Spencer, Director of the Monitoring and Evaluation Office of Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Planning and Development, shared that as an island nation vulnerable to environmental impacts, Trinidad and Tobago places environmental protection at the center of its “Vision 2030” policy framework. The country is integrating climate change into its national development strategy and evaluation agenda. “By embedding environmental assessments within national policy-making, we aim to make significant strides in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, and deploying renewable energy, taking active measures to combat climate change and ensure the sustainability of future development,” Spencer stated.

**Strengthening National Leadership**

Recently, a UN report on the 2024 Sustainable Development Goals indicated that there are only six years left to achieve these goals, yet progress remains far behind the requirements. Ada Ocampo, Chair of the International Development Evaluation Association (IDEAS), highlighted the importance of national-led evaluations for sustainable development, noting that such evaluations provide essential data for decision-making and engage relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the UN’s 2030 Agenda.

“National-led evaluations not only support information needs for national projects and programs, enhancing their credibility, but also create platforms for collaboration among government agencies, experts, and stakeholders,” said Nea-Mari Heinonen, an evaluation expert from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “This fosters capacity building and helps effectively address complex issues. I hope this conference can provide experiences and insights for countries and regions to conduct comprehensive national-led evaluations that bridge existing gaps.”

Bala Yusuf-Yunusa, Senior Technical Advisor in the Office of the Nigerian President for the Sustainable Development Goals, shared that Nigeria has prioritized the implementation of national-led evaluations as part of its commitment to achieving the UN’s 2030 Agenda. “We have established an independent evaluation team focused on conducting country assessments, which allows us to monitor progress on our goals and strengthen national policy execution. Supported by our national-led evaluations, we collaborate with various stakeholders to effectively achieve our sustainable development objectives,” he explained.

To date, the Global National Assessment Capacity Conferences have convened seven times, significantly enhancing the national assessment capabilities and governance levels of countries worldwide, while jointly advancing the implementation of the UN’s 2030 Agenda. This conference aims to solidify consensus among participants through the “Responsive Assessment Framework: Beijing Action Plan for 2030,” clarifying the next steps in this vital endeavor.