ILO launches i-eval AI Assistant to deliver faster, smarter access to evaluation insights for evidence-based decision-making

The i-eval AI Assistant is a new tool that enables ILO staff to instantly extract clear, source-cited insights from over 1,700 evaluation reports—making it easier to apply evaluation evidence into project design, policy development, strategic communication, and decision-making.

Launched and tested as a pilot by the Evaluation Office (EVAL) in partnership with INFOTEC in late 2024, the i-eval AI Assistant is now available for all ILO staff to use. Instead of reviewing hundreds of pages, users can obtain tailored findings from quality-assured evaluation reports in under 20 seconds—saving time and supporting more effective and efficient programming and learning across the Organization.

Embedded in i-eval Discovery—the ILO’s public evaluation dashboard—the i-eval AI Assistant transforms complex questions about what works and why in ILO development cooperation projects into coherent, two-page summaries, that are fully source-cited and linked to original reports.

“This is a game-changer,” said Guy Thijs, Director of the ILO Evaluation Office. “In under 20 seconds, users can access actionable knowledge that once took days to compile—complete with source citations and links to the reports. This greatly enhances ILO colleagues’ ability to design, implement, and communicate on projects the ILO carries out, using evaluative evidence more effectively.”

"As part of the DG’s drive for innovation, INFOTEC is partnering with Departments to pilot AI solutions. The collaboration with EVAL, called the i-eval AI Assistant, is the first approved for operational use—leveraging generative AI and Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to enhance knowledge access and accelerate research,” said Stewart Kershner, Chief Digital Officer, and Srini Konuganti, Head of Data and Analytics.

This innovation builds on EVAL’s broader agenda, outlined in its 2023–25 Evaluation Strategy, to continually invest in AI-driven digital solutions—alongside platforms such as i-eval Discovery and the Automated Management Response System. Together with the new i-eval AI Assistant, these systems are transforming how evaluative knowledge supports programming, accountability, and learning across the ILO.