GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Countdown to
the event
Introduction
National Conference on Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (NCMEL), 2026 organised by the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office, NITI Aayog, Government of India, is a significant interdisciplinary gathering of government officials, professionals, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners dedicated to advancing the field of monitoring, evaluation, and learning across the globe. This conference is a pivotal platform for exchanging knowledge, experiences, and best practices, all aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of evaluation processes across various sectors.
THEME
Strengthening Development through Global and National M&E Practices
Advancing Evaluation Frameworks and Methods: Global Lessons on integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Evidence
Integrating AI and Data Sciences in Evaluation Design
Innovations in M&E and Adaptive M&E Systems
Global Perspectives on M&E
Bridging Borders through Evaluation: NDB and its Partners Advancing Cross-Country Learning and Collaboration
Monitoring & Evaluation in Indian States/UTs - Widening and Deepening EngagementOur Speakers
SESSION 1: Advancing Evaluation Frameworks and Methods: Global Lessons on integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Evidence
Ms. Nidhi Chhibber
CEO NITI Aayog & DG, DMEO
Dr. Emmanuel Jimenez
Director General, Independent Evaluation Department at ADB
Ms. Shobhini Mukerji
Executive Director, J-PAL South Asia
Mr. Ashwani K. Muthoo
Director General, Independent Evaluation Office, NDB
Ms. Megan Grace Kennedy-Chouane
Head of Evaluation Unit, OECD Development Co-operation Directorate
Ms. Ashley Wax
Regional Evaluation Advisor, UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office
SESSION 2: INTEGRATING AI AND DATA SCIENCES IN EVALUATION DESIGN
Dr. Abinash Dash
Director, DMEO, NITI Aayog
Ms. Astha Kapoor
Co-Founder, Aapti Institute
Dr. G Suresh Reddy
Lead, Strategic Information, I-Tech India
Dr. Prachi Karkhanis
Associate Director, MEL, Wadhwani AI
Gaurav Godhwani
Founder, CivicDataLab
SESSION 3: INNOVATIONS IN M&E AND ADAPTIVE M&E SYSTEMS
Shri Antony Cyriac
Economic Adviser, MoSPI
Dr. Shyam Singh
Professor, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), Tribhuvan Sahkari University
Mr. Amil Epa
President, Sri Lanka Evaluation Association (SLEvA)
Ms. Megan Grace Kennedy-Chouane
Head of Evaluation Unit, OECD Development Co-operation Directorate
Dr. Rajib Nandi
Co-founder, ECOI
Dr. Sanjay Kumar
Population Dynamics and Research Specialist, UNFPA
SESSION 4 : Global Perspectives on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)
Sh. Dhrijesh Kumar Tiwari
Joint Secretary, DMEO, NITI Aayog
Dr. Emmanuel Jimenez
Director General, Independent Evaluation Department, ADB
Dr. Esther Kaggwa
Regional Evaluation Advisor, UNICEF South Asia
Ms. Andrea M. Wojnar
Representative for India and Country Director of Bhutan, UNFPA
Session 5: Bridging Borders through Evaluation: NDB and its Partners Advancing Cross-Country Learning and Collaboration
Ms. Fariha Ahmed
Evaluation Partnerships Specialist, Independent Evaluation Office (IEO), New Development Bank
Mr. Henrique Pissaia
Principal Professional, Independent Evaluation Office (IEO), New Development Bank
Mr. Eskender Zeleke
Head of Independent Evaluation at Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Complaints-resolution, Evaluation, and Integrity Unit (CEIU)
Mona Fetouh Saleh
Deputy Director, Independent Office of Evaluation, International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD)
Ms Edeshri Moodley
Head of Evaluation, Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)
SESSION 6 : MONITORING & EVALUATION IN INDIAN STATES/UTS - WIDENING AND DEEPENING ENGAGEMENT
Dr. Radha Ashrit
Deputy Director General, MoSPI
Shri Raj Shekhar Joshi
Former Vice Chairman, SETU Aayog, Uttarakhand
Dr. K. Subramaniam
Member, Chhattisgarh Rajya NITI Aayog
Shri Nelson Roy Kharchandy
Deputy Director, Directorate of Programme Implementation & Evaluation Government of Meghalaya
Prof. Vinod Mishra
Associate Professor in Public Policy, TISS Hyderabad
Shri Ashish Sahu
Director & Head, Manav Rachna Centre for Capacity Building & Consultancy
Event
Schedule
Registration and Tea @ Venue
09:00-09:45
Lighting of the lamp by dignitaries
09:45-09:55
Opening Remarks
09:55-10:10
Speaker:
Ms. Nidhi Chhibber, CEO, NITI Aayog & DG, DMEO
Address
10:10-10:25
Speaker:
Shri Raj Shekhar Joshi, Former Vice Chairman, SETU Aayog, Uttarakhand
Address by Guest of Honour
10:25-10:40
Speaker:
Sh. V. Vualnam, Secretary, Department of Expenditure (DoE), Ministry of Finance
Address by Chief Guest
10:40-10:55
Speaker:
Sh. Suman Bery, Vice-Chairperson, NITI Aayog
Vote of Thanks
10:55-11:00
Speaker
Sh. Dhrijesh Kumar Tiwari, Joint Secretary, DMEO
High Tea
11:00-11:30
Session 1 : Advancing Evaluation Frameworks and Methods: Global Lessons on integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Evidence
11:30-13:00
Chair:
Ms. Nidhi Chhibber, CEO, NITI Aayog & DG, DMEO
Lunch
13:00-14:00
Session 2: : Integrating AI and Data Sciences in Evaluation Design
14:00-15:30
Moderator:
Dr. Abinash Dash, Director, DMEO
Tea
15:30-16:00
Session 3: Innovations in M&E and Adaptive M&E Systems
16:00-17:30
Moderator:
Shri Antony Cyriac, Economic Adviser, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
Concluding Remarks
17:30-17:45
Speaker:
Sh. S. Arputhaswamy, EA, DMEO
Registration and Tea @ Venue
09:00-09:30
09:30-09:45
Address by Sh. B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, Former CEO, NITI Aayog
Session 4: Global Perspectives on M&E
09:45-11:00
Chair:
Sh. Dhrijesh Kumar Tiwari, Joint Secretary, DMEO
Tea
11:00-11:30
Session 5:Bridging Borders through Evaluation: NDB and its Partners Advancing Cross-Country Learning and Collaboration
11:30-13:00
Moderator:
Ms. Fariha Ahmed, Partnerships Specialist, Independent Evaluation Office, New Development Bank
Lunch
13:00-14:00
Session 6: Monitoring & Evaluation In Indian States/UTs - Widening And Deepening Engagement
14:00-15:30
Moderator:
Dr. Radha Ashrit, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
Closing Remarks
15:30-15:45
Speaker:
Shri Samarendra Prakash Srivastava, Deputy Director General, DMEO