Arendalsuka 2025: Building Smarter Aid Through Evaluation and Innovation

As global crises grow more complex—conflict, climate, geopolitical shifts and tighter budgets – Norway’s development cooperation must remain relevant and effective. Smarter aid isn’t only about investing better, but about knowing better: using evidence to guide choices, improve learning, and strengthen impact.

But how do we strike the right balance between innovation and proven practice? Between taking risks to improve, and safeguarding what already works?

This session explores evaluation and innovation as indispensable tools to help make aid more responsive, relevant, and accountable – while navigating the real-world trade-offs that shape development today.

• Date: 12 August, 2025
• Time: 17.00 – 17.45
• Location: Kambuzi restaurant, Nedre Tyholmsvei 7B, Arendal

With:

• Kai Brand-Jacobsen – Senior Adviser, Independent Evaluation Department of Norwegian Development Cooperation (moderator)
• Zenda Ofir – International Evaluation and Transformation Specialist, High-Level Evaluation Advisory Committee, BRICS New Development Bank
• Claudio Alberti – Policy Analyst, Development Co-operation Directorate OECD-DAC
• Eirik Mofoss – Managing Director, Langsikt | Chair of Gi Effektivt
• Cedric de Coning – Research Professor, NUPI
• Henrik Nordal – Director, Independent Evaluation Department of Norwegian Development Cooperation