Director General of Independent Evaluation Office of New Development Bank, Ashwani Muthoo: "Harmonisation of methodologies in evaluation for projects is critical"
BRICS Podcast (EN)Show Notes
Over the years, the New Development Bank has approved approximately 120 projects worldwide, totalling more than US$39 billion. Many of these projects are well known, including Line 6 of the Qingdao Metro in China; the large-scale Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut project in India; and, in early 2026, financing was also approved for the construction of Brazil’s largest power transmission line, the Graca Aranha – Silvania line. To ensure that every initiative supported by the international financial institution contributes to sustainable progress, an Independent Evaluation Office was established.
Do the assessment criteria vary depending on the specific characteristics of each country? In which BRICS countries will a country portfolio analysis be conducted in the near future? How is collaboration with multilateral development banks structured to harmonise assessment requirements?
Ashwani Muthoo, Director General of the Independent Evaluation Office of the New Development Bank, shared his insights on this topic in our BRICSterview.
TV BRICS reporter: Ekaterina Fomina
More from BRICS Podcast (EN)
Brazil’s National Energy Plan to 2050 envisages expanding nuclear generation by 8–10 GW. According to the authorities, this is expected to ensure a stable and reliable electricity supply for the population. One of the solutions under consideration is floating nuclear power plants, which Brazil is negotiating to acquire from Russia. What effect could this cooperation have on the transformation of the republic’s energy sector? What opportunities for renewable energy projects are opened up by the country’s cooperation with BRICS partners? Lais Nascimento Cardoso Cruz, Professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, shared her insights on this topic in BRICSterview. TV BRICS reporter: Leonid Samuna
Since 2025, Thailand has officially participated in BRICS activities as a partner state, declaring its readiness for deeper integration with the group. Bangkok is confident that the Kingdom can bring the group closer to the ASEAN.
According to industry estimates, about 2 million people worldwide now practise winter or ice swimming. Enthusiasts say this extreme sport helps strengthen the immune system and has a positive effect on virtually all bodily systems. Since the late 2000s, winter swimming has been actively promoted by Ram Barkai, a seventy-year-old athlete who has taken part in multi-hour swims in South Africa, Russia and China.What attracts athletes to this sport? What initiatives could improve the safety of such competitions? Ram Barkai, Founder of the International Ice Swimming Association, told about this in a BRICSterview. TV BRICS reporter: Tatyana Likhachyova
Latin America already has one of the "cleanest" energy mixes in the world today. Experts believe that by 2050, 76 per cent of all electricity in the region will come from renewable sources. Ecuador, in particular, is actively expanding its use of renewables.
In August, the Republic of South Africa celebrates Women’s Month. This is not only a tribute to previous generations who contributed to the advancement of women’s rights and the development of society but also an important time to focus on issues related to gender equality.