Joint Evaluation of Effectiveness and Impact of the Enabling Development Policy of the World Food Programme (WFP)

In 1999, the Executive Board of World Food Programme (WFP) approved the Enabling Development Policy (EDP) to help the organization sharpen the focus of its development activities. The stated objectives of the EDP were to enable marginalized people, through the provision of food assistance, to take part in the development process.

In 2003, a group of donor countries, including Canada, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy and the United States, undertook an external evaluation of the EDP in order to assess its relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability, and progress made in its implementation. The evaluation was conducted between 2003 and 2005.

The study concluded that the EDP is a sound policy whose principles are worth further support. The report provides recommendations in order to improve the implementation of the policy and consequently, the development activities of the WFP. Senior management is committed to address the shortcomings identified in the evaluation and has developed a detailed plan of action supported by CIDA.