In early June 2025, evaluators, development professionals, and policymakers around the world convened for gLocal Evaluation Week—a global movement championing the use of evaluation as a driver of learning, accountability, and positive change. As part of this weeklong series of events, UNICEF’s West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) and the Independent Development Evaluation (IDEV) of the African Development Bank (AfDB) co-hosted a high-level panel discussion under the theme: “Catalyzing Sustainable Growth and Development through Evaluative Evidence – Lessons from Sierra Leone and Liberia.”
Why Evaluation Matters
Evaluations do more than verify whether results were achieved—they help shape those results in the first place. In fragile and complex contexts, where needs are urgent and resources are limited, evaluations provide the evidence, feedback, and strategic direction that enable programmes to be more adaptive, inclusive, and impactful.
By systematically analyzing what works, what doesn’t, and why, evaluations help decision-makers course-correct in real time, optimize resource allocation, and prioritize the most effective approaches. They bring the voices of rights holders into focus, ensure accountability to those we serve, and illuminate blind spots that may otherwise go unnoticed.
In this way, evaluations don’t just measure outcomes—they influence how those outcomes are defined, pursued, and sustained. As UNICEF WCARO Regional Director Gilles Fagninou noted in his opening remarks, “Evaluations are mirrors and compasses.” They reflect progress and challenges, while also guiding action—offering a roadmap for making smarter decisions that ultimately improve lives.
Spotlight on Liberia and Sierra Leone
During the session, we presented findings from recent Country Programme Evaluations (CPEs) in Liberia and Sierra Leone—two countries navigating the legacies of conflict, health emergencies, economic shocks, and climate vulnerability.
The CPEs of UNICEF Programmes in these countries showed that despite the many challenges, both countries have made meaningful progress in several key areas. Health outcomes are improving, and education systems are showing signs of positive change, with more children transitioning to higher levels of schooling and gains in literacy. Access to essential services such as safe water, sanitation, and birth registration has also expanded, reaching more communities and helping to lay the groundwork for more inclusive development.
Yet despite these advances, the evaluations made it clear that sustainable, transformative change requires more than incremental progress. Critical service delivery gaps remain—in areas such as immunization, nutrition, and child protection—that must be addressed to ensure timely and equitable access for all children. The evaluations also revealed lessons with far-reaching relevance: the importance of investing in human capital, engaging communities meaningfully, integrating sectors for greater impact, and strengthening disaggregated data systems to reach the most marginalized.
Across fragile and stable settings alike, these findings reaffirm that evaluation is not merely a technical exercise—it is a strategic leadership tool. It enables governments, UN agencies, and civil society to align vision with evidence, adapt to shifting realities, and make better decisions for children. In both Liberia and Sierra Leone, the evaluations did just that: they went beyond reflection, informing the design of new country programmes, driving locally adapted solutions, and sharpening the focus on equity. As a result, UNICEF and partners are now better equipped to respond to the complex needs of children and families in some of the most challenging contexts.
Looking Ahead
The momentum from gLocal Evaluation Week is a timely reminder that evaluations must go beyond reflection—they must drive transformation. As development actors face mounting challenges, embedding evaluation into planning, decision-making, and partnership frameworks is no longer optional—it’s essential.
By using evaluation to listen more closely, act more strategically, and course-correct in real time, we can make smarter investments, build stronger systems, and deliver sustainable, inclusive results for every child—everywhere.
