Cairo: The Egyptian government has launched a new national platform to institutionalize evidence-based policymaking, with the signing of a cooperation protocol to establish the Egyptian Observatory for Evaluation and Policy-Making. 'The observatory will serve as a national mechanism for integrating scientific evidence into policy design and program implementation,' according to an official statement by the ministry.

According to State Information Service Egypt, its main aim is to enhance government performance by embedding robust systems for monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment across public institutions and think tanks. The agreement was signed by Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat; Head of the Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) Osama El-Gohary; President of the National Planning Institute Ashraf El-Araby; and Executive Director of the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) Marie Gaarder.

By strengthening institutional capacity in monitoring and evaluation, the initiative seeks to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government programs, ensure measurable developmental outcomes, and promote long-term economic and social welfare. According to Al-Mashat, the protocol reinforces the Ministry's mandate under Egypt's Planning Law (Law No. 18 of 2022) to lead national sustainable development strategies, track their implementation, and ensure alignment with Egypt Vision 2030. She noted that the ministry also supports integrated planning efforts and works with development partners to promote inclusive, sustainable economic growth.

The Ministry of Planning will provide strategic guidance for the observatory, ensuring its monitoring and impact evaluation activities align with national development priorities. It will also partner with the National Planning Institute to deliver specialized training programs and work closely with affiliated bodies, including the Egyptian Impact Lab and the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), to promote the integration of evaluation methods into Egypt's broader policy framework.

Al-Mashat emphasized that the observatory comes at a critical time, as Egypt moves forward with key legislative and economic reforms, including the new Planning Law, Unified Public Finance Law, and the ongoing structural reform program. She noted the growing need to assess the impact of these reforms - particularly those related to macroeconomic stability, green transformation, and legal and regulatory changes under initiatives like 'IRADA.'

Osama El-Gohary welcomed the establishment of what he called a 'Collaborative Impact Evaluation Lab,' describing it as a cornerstone of Egypt's move toward a more agile, data-driven government. He praised the Ministry's role in building international partnerships to support the observatory and emphasized the importance of using scientific evidence to improve decision-making.