Evaluability assessment and formative evaluation of child rights mainstreaming

By mandate from the United Nations General Assembly, UNICEF works to protect the rights of every child, in times of peace or crisis. We advocate for education, health, and nutrition services, protect children from violence and abuse, bring clean water and sanitation to those in need, and keep them safe from climate change and disease.

The Secretary-General’s Guidance Note on Child Rights Mainstreaming (CRM), endorsed in July 2023, aims to integrate child rights across all UN activities. It recognizes children as full rights holders under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and mandates a coherent UN system-wide approach to child rights across all UN pillars, entities, and levels. UNICEF and OHCHR are jointly entrusted with coordinating and supporting implementation of the Guidance Note, which includes a ‘Framework for UN Action’ outlining ten focus areas. These focus areas span both external-facing policies, advocacy, and programmes, and internal operational practices such as accountability, budgeting, and child participation.

This independent Evaluability Assessment and Formative Evaluation (EAFE), commissioned by UNICEF’s Evaluation Office, assesses the UN system’s readiness to implement the Guidance Note. It identifies barriers, enablers, and opportunities, and provides actionable recommendations to strengthen implementation. The EAFE also enhances evaluability by developing a theory of change, evaluation framework, and a self-assessment tool and rubric to support monitoring, evaluation and accountability across UN entities. Global in scope and responsive to evolving UN priorities, the EAFE promotes system-wide learning and supports the translation of the Guidance Note’s ambition into measurable, coordinated action for children’s rights.