There is growing interest in General Budget Support (GBS) as a modality of development cooperation. In a number of developing countries external assistance is increasingly taking the form of GBS, with a relative decline in both project aid and sector- or area-based programme support. The Evaluation community is therefore asking when and how it will be most appropriate to commission evaluation work to assess the viability and effectiveness of this type of aid.

This workshop, hosted by DFID on behalf of the DAC Evaluation Working Party, brought together evaluation specialists and other representatives from a wide range of bilateral and multilateral agencies to undertake a preliminary discussion of this question. The workshop reviewed the findings and lessons from a number of recent studies concerned with different aspects of the evaluation of GBS. Ideas and proposals were exchanged about how best to move forward towards an agenda of joint evaluation and research on GBS.

The workshop agenda included five formal presentations, a panel discussion and group work. It was introduced by Barrie Ireton, DFID Director General, and chaired by Simon Maxwell, Director of the Overseas Development Institute, London.