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FROM THE DIRECTOR'S DESK: IEO @UNDP YEAR IN REVIEW

As we approach the end of an action-packed 2019, I would like to take some time to reflect on what has been an exciting year. IEO has made considerable progress on our commitment to deliver credible evaluations, help UNDP to learn and continue to improve its performance and growth. I am pleased to share this infographic snapshot and splash video that summarizes our key achievements of the year.

2019 was another landmark year in our journey during which time our stakeholders continued to support and express confidence in our work. IEO engaged on the learning front at both the outset and end of country-level evaluations together with partners at the national level. For the first time, IEO embarked on 100% coverage of UNDP country programmes, resulting in high levels of transparency and accountability. This year we conducted 38 Independent Country Programme Evaluations (ICPEs) and in those efforts, IEO focused not only on efficiency and effectiveness but also in ensuring the ‘human’ element through partnerships and constructive dialogue. We engaged our audiences and held 25 stakeholder workshops, which were key to the utility of our evaluation findings and recommendations. We also published 16 ICPE’s and disseminated their findings and recommendations globally.

In our efforts to contribute to sustainable, equitable and inclusive development, IEO supported the development of national evaluation capacities and systems as part of a broader strategy to contribute to the realization of the SDGs. In October, we organized the 2019 Conference on National Evaluation Capacities in partnership with the Government of Egypt. The conference brought together more than 500 participants from over 100 countries under the theme of Leaving No One Behind: Evaluation for 2030. The conference provided participants a valuable platform to engage on relevant evaluation topics in the era of the SDGs. You can watch the recap of the conference opening and the plenaries.

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To advance global evaluation culture and practice, IEO led the first training course on Evaluation in the UN at the International Program for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET). In UNDP, IEO supported and bolstered its decentralized evaluation function and organized several webinars and regional workshops to roll out the Evaluation Guidelines. Additionally, we developed an online certified training for M&E focal points.

Aside from these great ventures, IEO focused a great deal on expanding its evaluation footprint to ensure we meet the goals as set out in our ambitious work plan. We strengthened IEO capacity, increased our investments in evaluation and revised the evaluation policy. The new evaluation policy allocates 0.3% of UNDP’s combined programmatic resources to independent evaluation. Furthermore, the policy expands IEO’s oversight on UNDP’s decentralized evaluation function to (i) assess regional and country offices; (ii) participate in the recruitment of independent evaluators; (iii) assess the quality and utility of evaluations commissioned; and (iv) support capacity building on evaluation. To fulfil this additional role, IEO plans to deploy a cadre of IEO evaluation advisers to the regions in the near future.

As part of IEO’s own reflective process and quest for excellence in the evaluation field, we paused to stock-take and reflect in order to prepare IEO for the next phase of transition. In May, we held the Evaluation Advisory Panel (EAP) meetings. 10 panel members and IEO staff came together over three days to discuss achievements, challenges, and lessons from the past six years. Through constructive and collaborative dialogue, the EAP sought to ensure that IEO’s outputs are valuable and ambitious while providing a firm foundation for the future. Watch the video highlights.

It has been a productive year for IEO, and these achievements reflect our commitment to work towards a stronger UNDP. Looking ahead, we are excited about 2020 and the impact IEO's work will have on UNDP’s efforts to help countries and communities respond to a fast-changing development landscape. We look forward to creating new solutions, nurturing new partnerships, building evaluation capacities, expanding IEO’s capacities at the regional level and advancing UNDP’s decentralized evaluation function.

As 2019 comes to a close, on behalf of everyone at IEO I would like to extend my warmest wishes to you and your family for a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season and a wonderful new year!

-- Indran Naidoo, Director, IEO UNDP

NEW PRODUCTS

ICPE Medley
The IEO published the following Independent Country Programme Evaluation's (ICPEs) in 2019.
Angola: Report | Brief
Colombia: Report | Brief
Comoros: Report | Brief
Cuba: Report | Brief
Ethiopia: Report | Brief
Guatemala: Report | Brief
Iraq Report | Brief
Madagascar Report | Brief

Maldives Report | Brief
Mozambique Report | Brief
Paraguay Report | Brief
Sierra Leone Report | Brief
Timor-Leste Report | Brief
Tunisia Report | Brief
Venezuela Report | Brief
Yemen Report | Brief

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Paper: Audit and evaluation: Working collaboratively to support accountability

Author: Indran A. Naidoo, Director, IEO, UNDP

Published in: Evaluation: The International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, November 2019

The paper explores the crucial roles audit and evaluation play in the oversight function of organizations. Both professions share commonalities that have led some to call for “enhanced oversight” through stronger collaboration of the two functions. The separation of the two functions, however, ensures their independence, which is a guarantee of the credibility of the auditors and evaluators’ work. Access the paper.

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ABOUT THE IEO @UNDP RESOURCES
At UNDP, evaluation is critical in helping countries achieve the simultaneous eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion.

The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reports to the UNDP Executive Board. The IEO is governed by the organization's Evaluation Policy and the UNDP Executive Board is the custodian of the policy. The core function of the IEO is to conduct two types of independent evaluations: thematic and programmatic. The IEO also prepares the Annual Report on Evaluation, sets standards and guidelines on evaluation, monitors compliance on evaluation and shares lessons for improved programming. Visit our website at www.undp.org/evaluation for more information.

Evaluation Policy

Guidance

Evaluation Resource Centre [ERC]

Annual Report on Evaluation

Independent Country Programme Evaluations

Thematic Evaluations

National Evaluation Capacity

Photo/Video Gallery

Blogs
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