New Momentum for Evidence-Based Development Cooperation - Insights from Wilton Park (UK)

In December, we organized a conference on evidence-based and impact-oriented development cooperation at Wilton Park (UK) to engage with international experts from key implementing regulation and evaluation organizations about strategies for better use of evidence in development cooperation. The final report of the conference has now been published, and we are pleased to share it. 

Why this conference?

Global challenges such as the unequally distributed progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require targeted, evidence-based solutions. To improve the impact of development measures, we must better integrate evidence-based approaches into political decisions and programs. The goal of the Wilton Park conference was therefore not only to discuss the latest findings and methods, but also to deepen partnerships and advance concrete measures for better use of evidence in development cooperation.

Who participated?

The conference took place in collaboration with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), the German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval) with support from BMZ, the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), and Coopération Globale. Together with leading experts from academia, politics, and practice, we discussed key challenges and solution approaches.

Key insights from the Wilton Park Report

The now published Wilton Park Report summarizes the most important discussions, findings, and agreed measures from the conference. Central topics include:

• Removing barriers to evidence-based action: How can scientific evidence be better integrated into political decision-making processes?
• Cost-efficiency and impact measurement: Which instruments help to optimize resource allocation?
• Strengthening local perspectives: How can partner countries play a stronger role in evidence production and utilization?
• Promoting strategic partnerships: How can actors from politics, science, and practice build sustainable cooperation structures?
• Utilizing technological innovations: How can AI and digital tools help make insights more accessible and applicable?

What does this mean for the future?

A key outcome of the conference is the joint commitment to increased use of evidence in development cooperation. For this purpose, a series of follow-up activities were decided, including:

• Policy Diffusion Calls 2025: Thematic exchange formats to deepen discussions.
• Institutional reforms: Stronger incentives for evidence-based work in international development organizations.
• New synthesis formats: Bundling and better preparation of existing evidence for political decision-makers.

Read the Wilton Park Report

The complete Wilton Park Report is now available and offers a well-founded analysis of current challenges and opportunities for evidence-based and impact-oriented development cooperation. We invite you to incorporate the insights and recommendations from the Wilton Park Report into your work, thus improving the effectiveness of development measures.

For further information, questions, or feedback, please contact us at: info@cooperationglobale.ch.

We look forward to your interest!