Unicef evaluation standards

UNICEF Evaluation Report Standards

The UNICEF Evaluation Report Standards have been created as a transparent tool for quality assessment of evaluation reports. This document outlines what the Standards are, the rationale for each standard and how they are applied. The Standards are used by UNICEF Evaluation Office to assess evaluations for inclusion in the organisation’s Evaluation andResearch Database to strengthen the Database as a learning tool. Application of Standards will also provide feedback to UNICEF Country Offices on how the evaluation is seen by someone outside of the evaluation process. The Standards are also intended for use by UNICEF offices and partners commissioning evaluations to establish the criteria against which the final report will be assessed. The UNICEFEvaluation Report Standards draw from and are complementary to key references on standards in evaluation design and process increasingly adopted in the international evaluation community.

Evaluation Office UNICEF NYHQ September 2004

Table of Contents
I. Introduction and Procedures ................................................................................................... 1 II.Evaluation Report Standards 1. Completeness of Title Page and Opening Pages ...................................................................... 6 2. Assessment of Executive Summary........................................................................................... 6 3. The project/programme to be evaluated was clearly described, including the logic of the programme design or expected resultschain. ................................................................................ 7 4. The role and contributions of UNICEF and other stakeholders to the project/programme were clearly described.............................................................................................................................. 8 5. Purpose and context provided a specific justification for undertakingthis evaluation at this time. ................................................................................................................................................. 9 6. The evaluation used standard OECD/DAC evaluation criteria as per UNICEF PPPM and/or provided an explanation for criteria that was considered not applicable and not used................. 10 7. Objectives were realistic andachievable in light of the information that can be collected in the context of the programme/project. The scope of the evaluation was defined clearly .................. 11 8. The evaluation design considered programme/projects’ incorporation of the UN and UNICEF’s commitment to human rights-based approach to programming.................................................... 12 9. The evaluationdesign considered programme/projects’ incorporation of results based management.................................................................................................................................. 15 10. Transparent description of methodology ................................................................................ 16 11. Evaluation methods were appropriate and adequate providing acomplete and fair assessment. Consideration was given to limitations of the methodology. ................................... 17 12. A complete description for stakeholder participation was given............................................. 18 13. Where information was gathered from those who benefited from the programme/project, information was also gathered from eligible persons not reached................................................ 19 14. The evaluation design was ethical and included ethical safeguards where appropriate, including protection of the confidentiality, dignity, rights and welfare of human subjects, particularly children, and respect for the values of the beneficiary community............................. 20 15. In presenting the findings, inputs, outputs, and,...