n SIMI and Blue Marble president Katsuji Imata knows firsthand the value of civil society in the IMM or evaluation process. Imata is seasoned in IMM and systems evaluation and is a member of the global Blue Marble Evaluation network. Developmental Evaluation and Blue Marble Evaluation are based on guiding principles that view the world globally, holistically, and systemically. They examine the interconnections of problems and solutions across the artificial boundaries of nation-states, sector silos, and narrowly identified issues. n GSG Impact JAPAN member Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) stands out for its long history of community participation and inclusivity. As a Development Finance Institution (DFI), it features community evaluation processes and local participation, emphasizing the real people at the heart of its programs. Even the visual elements of its reports reinforce this ethos, with images depicting individuals and natural landscapes that reflect the lives and environments impacted by JICA’s work. 96 These visuals are more than an aesthetic choice—they embody JICA’s commitment to connecting its initiatives with the communities it serves. Another strength of JICA’s approach lies in its practice of conducting assessments at the fund level, rather than relying solely on evaluations by individual investees. By assessing at the fund level, JICA ensures that its impact measurement captures systemic outcomes, providing a more comprehensive and accountable view of its programs’ effectiveness. Why does JICA take such a rigorous approach? Partly, because it must. As a steward of public funding and a quasi-governmental organization, JICA operates within a framework of aid conditionality and international norms that demand transparency, accountability, and measurable outcomes. This accountability is necessary to maintain donor trust and secure future funding, especially in the competitive arena of international development. Moreover, JICA’s alignment with global development standards, such as those established by the OECD-DAC, reflects the traditions of international organizations to highlight the people and communities behind its work. An example of JICA’s robust community participation programs is its Knowledge Co- Creation Program (KCCP), which focuses on capacity building for local governments, emphasizing community involvement in development projects. 97 The program focuses on learning from Japan about formulating, implementing, monitoring, and getting feedback on regional development plans with active community involvement. For
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Ten Years in the Making
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