Investment Climate Facility for Africa: Response from Co-Chair FitzGerald

In a recent CGD Note, Sarah Rose and I argued that the U.S. government should support the Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF), but only after several questions about the initiative were answered. I am pleased indeed that our comments reached the right audiences, including ICF Co-Chair Niall FitzGerald who responded to our questions with new information and clarifications about the ICF's activities, processes, and relationships with other organizations (Read his full response).Mr. FitzGerald's endorsement of independent evaluation is of particular interest to me and my colleagues at the Center, because of our ongoing initiative to encourage more and better independent impact evaluations. Mr. FitzGerald writes:

We concur absolutely with the CGD that independent external evaluation is essential. Arrangements are in place for ICF investors as a group to commission an independent assessment of the ICF's performance and impacts every two years against objective investment climate indicators.