The Evaluation Office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has officially changed its name to that of the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) which was approved at the first regular session of the UNDP Executive Board in January 2014. The name change emphasizes the structural independence of the Evaluation Office and further clarifies its status to stakeholders. It also promotes credibility of the evaluations conducted by the IEO and underscores the critical role of the IEO as a provider of impartial assessments of UNDP results and performance. This change reflects the importance that the UNDP Executive Board and UNDP management place on transparency and accountability.
Review of the Evaluation Policy of UNDP
As requested by the UNDP Executive Board, the Evaluation Policy of UNDP is undergoing an independent review to assess the performance of the evaluation function since the approval of the Evaluation Policy in 2011 and the extent to which the organization has responded to the requirements of the policy. This review will help align the evaluation function with the new 2014-2017 UNDP Strategic Plan. The review is being conducted by Le Groupe-conseil baastel's (Baastel) and the team comprises Mr. David Todd, Mr. Goberdhan Singh, Ms. Maureen Wang’ati, Mr. Burt Perrin and Mr. Alexandre Daoust. The Independent Evaluation Office abides by the Evaluation Policy of UNDP and the UNDP Executive Board is the custodian of the policy. For more information on the policy click here.
NEW PRODUCTS
New IEO website
The Independent Evaluation Office of UNDP has redeveloped its website! The site has been re-designed using tools and enhancements, to simplify and improve access to our resources and enhance engagement. Among the new features are latest highlights, updated repositories, new content structure and audience-specific entry points. Visit it at www.undp.org/evaluation.
Assessment of Development Results: Angola
The evaluation is an independent country level evaluation conducted by the Independent Evaluation Office of UNDP and examines the strategic relevance and positioning of UNDP support and its contributions to development results in Angola from 2005 to 2011. For more information, and to download the report, click here.
Article in Evaluation: The International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice Journal
Evaluating Environment and Development, Lessons from International Cooperation - Juha I. Uitto, Deputy Director, Independent Evaluation Office, UNDP
The article discusses environmental evaluation in the context of national development in developing countries. It makes a case for evaluation to move beyond evaluating individual interventions to assessing the contributions to sustainable development at the national and international levels. It highlights challenges relating to evaluating environment in national development, as well as aggregation and attribution of results from programmes aimed for demonstration and policy influence. The discussion is focused around two concrete cases involving programmes by UNDP and the Global Environment Facility. Click here to read.
COMING SOON
Evaluating Environment in International Development
Climate change has emerged as a preeminent challenge to both the environment and to development. Evaluating Environment in International Development provides international perspectives and in-depth knowledge of evaluating development and the environment and applies evaluation knowledge to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The book focuses on the approaches and experiences of leading international organizations, not-for-profits, and multilateral and bilateral aid agencies to illustrate how systematic evaluation is an essential tool for providing evidence for decision-makers. It is due for release in May 2014!
ABOUT THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OFFICE
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. IEO hosts and supports the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) Secretariat and actively participates in UNEG to strengthen coherence, quality and innovation of evaluation across the UN system. Visit our website at www.undp.org/evaluation for more information.
Click here for a detailed list of ongoing and upcoming projects.
