In the last OECD-DAC Peer Review of the Netherlands (2006), the independence of the Policy and Operations Evaluation Department (IOB), which is responsible for evaluating broad policy and cross-cutting themes, was considered a long-term strength within the Dutch system. This evaluation report is an example of its independent critical and constructive work. It raises a number of issues that are relevant not only to Dutch development cooperation in Africa, but to all OECD-DAC members’ bilateral assistance. Among these issues are: policy coherence, the mode of aid delivery, accountability, prioritization, and ownership.