On the margins of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026, H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Gérardine MUKESHIMANA, Vice-President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

The discussions focused on ongoing and prospective development projects across OIC countries, particularly in Africa and Central Asia, with a strong emphasis on strengthening monitoring and evaluation (M&E) processes. Both sides highlighted the importance of robust, data-driven impact assessment frameworks to ensure the effectiveness, accountability, and sustainability of development interventions.

H.E. SELÇUK underlined SESRIC’s extensive experience in supporting OIC countries through statistical capacity-building, research, and data-driven policy analysis. She emphasized that effective monitoring and evaluation systems are essential for measuring development outcomes and guiding evidence-based decision-making. In this regard, she noted that SESRIC’s work in monitoring progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reporting to relevant Organisation of Islamic Cooperation fora constitutes a valuable institutional asset that can inform joint efforts in impact assessment.

She further expressed SESRIC’s readiness to collaborate with IFAD in designing and implementing technical initiatives, including capacity-building programmes, methodological development, and knowledge-sharing platforms aimed at enhancing M&E systems in member countries.

In her remarks, H.E. MUKESHIMANA welcomed the opportunity to deepen cooperation with SESRIC and acknowledged the Centre’s expertise in statistical systems and development monitoring. She emphasized that IFAD places high priority on strengthening the quality and reliability of impact assessments, particularly in projects targeting rural development, food security, and poverty reduction.

H.E. MUKESHIMANA also highlighted that integrating SESRIC’s data and analytical capabilities with IFAD’s field-level project experience could significantly enhance the measurement of development outcomes and improve the effectiveness of interventions across OIC regions. She expressed her institution’s interest in exploring concrete areas of collaboration, particularly in advancing innovative approaches to monitoring and evaluation.

The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their shared commitment to fostering closer institutional cooperation and translating their dialogue into practical initiatives that support sustainable development efforts in OIC countries.