Executive Board engagement
Independent evaluation supporting governance and accountability
The UNICEF Executive Board plays a central role in the governance of evaluation at UNICEF. It endorses the UNICEF Evaluation policy and oversees its implementation, helping safeguard the independence, credibility, and effectiveness of the evaluation function.
The Board also reviews the Plan for global evaluations, which sets out priorities for global evaluation in alignment with the UNICEF Strategic Plan, and considers the Evaluation Office's programme of work and resources as part of UNICEF's planning and budgeting processes.
Each year, the Evaluation Office reports to the Executive Board on the performance of evaluation at UNICEF through its Annual Report on the Evaluation Function. The Board also considers selected evaluation reports and their management responses, providing an important opportunity to discuss evaluation findings, recommendations, and their implications for UNICEF's policies, programmes, and organizational performance.
Through this engagement, independent evaluation provides the Executive Board with evidence to support its oversight and governance responsibilities and contributes to accountability, organizational learning, and evidence-informed decision-making.
Access evaluation policies, plans, annual reports, evaluation reports and management responses, decisions, and other evaluation-related documents presented to the UNICEF Executive Board.
Evaluation sessions of the UNICEF Executive Board
Evaluation, audit and oversight matters |
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2026 Executive Board Sessions
Annual session | 16–19 June 2026
- Annual report for 2025 on the evaluation function in UNICEF (E/ICEF/2026/17) EN FR ES AR RU ZH
- Presentation by Mr. Robert McCouch, Director of Evaluation, UNICEF
- Management response to the annual report for 2025 on the evaluation function in UNICEF (E/ICEF/2026/18) EN FR ES AR RU ZH
- Impact evaluation of the early childhood cash transfer of the Juntos programme on health services coverage and prevalence of stunting and anaemia in Peru
- Summary (E/ICEF/2026/19) EN FR ES AR RU ZH
- UNICEF summary of the response of the Government of Peru to the impact evaluation report (E/ICEF/2026/20) EN FR ES AR RU ZH
- Presentation by Mr. Robert McCouch, Director of Evaluation, UNICEF
- Statement by Belgium on behalf of Australia, Canada, the European Union, Ireland, Japan, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium
First regular session | 10–13 February 2026
- (a) Plan for global evaluations, 2026-2029 (E/ICEF/2026/5); and Costed annual workplan for evaluation for 2026 (UNICEF/2026/EB/5); and
- (b) Evaluation of UNICEF work in early childhood development and early childhood education, 2018–2023 -
- Summary (E/ICEF/2026/3) and management response (E/ICEF/2026/4)
Live viewing and records of the session:
Information for participants
The session will be available via UN Web TV in all official United Nations languages.
The final official versions of these session documents are published exclusively “paperless” through the United Nations Official Document System (ODS).
Evaluation sessions in prior years
Evaluation sessions in prior years
Annual session | 16–19 June 2026
- Annual report for 2025 on the evaluation function in UNICEF (E/ICEF/2026/17) EN FR ES AR RU ZH
- Presentation by Mr. Robert McCouch, Director of Evaluation, UNICEF
- Management response to the annual report for 2025 on the evaluation function in UNICEF (E/ICEF/2026/18) EN FR ES AR RU ZH
- Impact evaluation of the early childhood cash transfer of the Juntos programme on health services coverage and prevalence of stunting and anaemia in Peru
- Summary (E/ICEF/2026/19) EN FR ES AR RU ZH
- UNICEF summary of the response of the Government of Peru to the impact evaluation report (E/ICEF/2026/20) EN FR ES AR RU ZH
- Presentation by Mr. Robert McCouch, Director of Evaluation, UNICEF
- Statement by Belgium on behalf of Australia, Canada, the European Union, Ireland, Japan, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium
First regular session | 10–13 February 2026
- a) Plan for global evaluations, 2026-2029 (E/ICEF/2026/5); and Costed annual workplan for evaluation for 2026 (UNICEF/2026/EB/5); and
- (b) Evaluation of UNICEF work in early childhood development and early childhood education, 2018–2023 -
- Summary (E/ICEF/2026/3) and management response (E/ICEF/2026/4)
Second regular session of the Executive Board 2025
Annual session of the Executive Board 2025
- Annual report for 2024 on the Evaluation Function in UNICEF (E/ICEF/2025/23)
- Management response to the annual report for 2024 on the Evaluation Function in UNICEF (E/ICEF/2025/24)
- Presentation by Mr. Robert McCouch, Director of Evaluation, UNICEF
First regular session of the Executive Board 2025
- Evaluation of the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2022–2025, – Summary (E/ICEF/2025/3), management response (E/ICEF/2025/4), and Presentation by Mr. Robert McCouch, Director of Evaluation, UNICEF; and
- Evaluation of the UNICEF Gender Policy and Gender Action Plans, – Summary (E/ICEF/2025/5), management response (E/ICEF/2025/6), and Presentation by Mr. Robert McCouch, Director of Evaluation, UNICEF
Second regular session of the Executive Board 2024
- Update on the implementation of the recommendations in the evaluability assessment and formative evaluation of the UNICEF positioning to achieve the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2022–2025 (E/ICEF/2024/31)
Annual session of the Executive Board 2024
- Annual report for 2023 on the Evaluation Function in UNICEF: (E/ICEF/2024/20) | Management response to the annual report (E/ICEF/2024/21)
- Evaluation of UNICEF approaches to advocacy: Summary (E/ICEF/2024/22) | Management response to the evaluation report (E/ICEF/2024/23) | ▶️ Watch the Evaluability assessment and formative evaluation of UNICEF’s approaches to advocacy animation video
- Evaluation of UNICEF investments towards institutional strengthening for social and behaviour change: Summary (E/ICEF/2024/24) | Management response to the evaluation report (E/ICEF/2024/25) | ▶️ Watch the Evaluation of investments towards strengthening social and behaviour change (SBC) animation video
First regular session of the Executive Board 2024
- Evaluation of UNICEF social protection responses towards universal child benefits: Summary (E/ICEF/2024/3) | Management response to the evaluation report (E/ICEF/2024/4)
- Evaluation of phase II (2020–2023) of the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage: Summary (E/ICEF/2024/5) | Management response to the evaluation report (E/ICEF/2024/6)
Second regular session of the Executive Board 2023
- Revised evaluation policy of UNICEF (E/ICEF/2023/27)
- Revised evaluation policy of UNICEF (corrigendum - E/ICEF/2023/27/Corr.1)
- Presentation by Mr. Robert McCouch, Director, Evaluation Office, UNICEF
- Update on the status of implementation of the recommendations in the self-assessment of the independence of the UNICEF Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (E/ICEF/2023/AB/L.7)
22 August 2023 | 11am-1pm | Informal briefing on the second regular session of the Executive Board 2023
- Revised evaluation policy of UNICEF (PPT)
Annual session of the Executive Board 2023
- Evaluation of the UNICEF Level 3 response to the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, summary (E/ICEF/2023/20) and management response (E/ICEF/2023/21)
- Annual report for 2022 on the Evaluation Function in UNICEF (E/ICEF/2023/18), and management response (E/ICEF/2023/19)
- Draft revised evaluation policy of UNICEF (UNICEF/2023/EB/11) | [See also this document page]
18 May 2023 | 10am-1pm | Informal briefing in advance of the annual session of the Executive Board 2023
- Annual report for 2022 on the Evaluation Function in UNICEF (E/ICEF/2023/18), (PPT) and management response (E/ICEF/2023/19)
- Draft revised evaluation policy of UNICEF (UNICEF/2023/EB/11) | (PPT)
First regular session of the Executive Board 2023
- Update on the status of the independent peer review of the UNICEF evaluation function (E/ICEF/2023/6);
- Evaluability assessment and formative evaluation of the UNICEF positioning to achieve the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2022–2025 | Summary (E/ICEF/2023/3) | Management response to the evaluation report (E/ICEF/2023/4)
19 Jan 2023 | Pre-session informal briefing of the first regular session of the Executive Board 2023
- Update on the status of the independent peer review of the UNICEF Evaluation Function (E/ICEF/2023/6) (PPT);
- Evaluability assessment and formative evaluation of the UNICEF positioning to achieve the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2022–2025: Summary (E/ICEF/2023/3)(PPT) and Management response (E/ICEF/2023/4) (PPT)
- ▶️ Watch the Evaluation of UNICEF's positioning for the Strategic Plan video
Annual report for 2021 on the Evaluation Function in UNICEF (E/ICEF/2022/17)
- Management response to the annual report for 2021 on the Evaluation Function in UNICEF (E/ICEF/2022/18)
- Presentation by Mr. Robert McCouch, Director of Evaluation, UNICEF
Evaluation of UNICEF's Cluster Lead Agency Role ('CLARE II')
- Summary: Evaluation of the UNICEF role as cluster lead/ co-lead agency (E/ICEF/2022/19)
- Management response to the evaluation of the UNICEF role as cluster lead/co-lead agency (E/ICEF/2022/20)
- Presentation by Mr. Robert McCouch, Director of Evaluation, UNICEF
- Presentation by Mr. Manuel Fontaine, Director, Office of Emergency Programmes, UNICEF
- ▶️ Watch the CLARE II video
Joint evaluability assessment of the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All
- Summary (E/ICEF/2022/4)
- Management response to evaluation report (E/ICEF/2022/5)
Plan for global evaluations, 2022–2025 (E/ICEF/2022/3)
- Draft decision submitted to the Executive Board: Plan for global evaluations, 2022–2025 (E/ICEF/2022/L.5)
Formative evaluation of UNICEF work to link humanitarian and development programming
- Evaluation report
- Summary [E/ICEF/2021/28]
- Management response [E/ICEF/2021/29]
Plan for global evaluations 2022–2025: draft for review (E/ICEF/2021/27)
Annual report for 2020 on the Evaluation Function in UNICEF
- Annual report [E/ICEF/2021/18]
- Management response [E/ICEF/2021/19]
Global evaluation of UNICEF water, sanitation and hygiene programming in protracted crises, 2014–2019
- Full report
- Summary [E/ICEF/2021/20]
- Management response [E/ICEF/2021/21]
Evaluation of UNICEF work for children in urban settings
- Full report
- Summary [E/ICEF/2021/3]
- Management response [E/ICEF/2021/4]
Evaluation of the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2018–2021
- Full report
- Summary [E/ICEF/2021/5]
- Management response [E/ICEF/2021/6]
- Updated road map to the development of the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2022–2025, including consultations and briefings [UNICEF/2021/EB/4]
Evaluation of innovation in UNICEF work
- Evaluation Synthesis Report
- Summary [E/ICEF/2020/3]
- Evaluation Management Response [E/ICEF/2020/4]
Annual report for 2019 on the Evaluation Function in UNICEF
- Annual Report [E/ICEF/2020/12]
- Evaluation Management Response [E/ICEF/2020/13]
Evaluation of the UNICEF Gender Action Plan
- Evaluation Report
- Summary [E/ICEF/2020/14]
- Evaluation Management Response [E/ICEF/2020/15]
Evaluation of the UNICEF contribution to education in humanitarian situations
- Evaluation Report
- Summary [E/ICEF/2020/19]
- Evaluation Management Response [E/ICEF/2020/20]
Strengthening child protection systems: evaluation of UNICEF strategies and programme performance
- Evaluation Report
- Executive Summary [E/ICEF/2019/23]
- Evaluation Management Response [E/ICEF/2019/24]
Evaluation of innovation in UNICEF work
- Evaluation Report
- Executive Summary [E/ICEF/2020/3]
- Evaluation Management Response [E/ICEF/2020/4]
Evaluation of the coverage and quality of the UNICEF humanitarian response in complex humanitarian emergencies
- Evaluation Report
- Executive Summary [E/ICEF/2019/16]
- Evaluation Management Response [E/ICEF/2019/17]
Annual report for 2018 on the Evaluation Function in UNICEF
- Annual Report [E/ICEF/2019/14]
- Evaluation Management Response [E/ICEF/2019/15]
Formative evaluation of the Out-of-School Children Initiative
- Evaluation Report
- Executive Summary [E/ICEF/2019/3]
- Evaluation Management Response [E/ICEF/2019/4]
Independent panel review of the UNICEF response to protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA)
- Independent Panel Review
- Executive Summary:[E/ICEF/2019/5]
- Evaluation Management Response [E/ICEF/2019/6]
- Updated Management Response [E/ICEF/2020/24] (as of 15 May 2020)
Plan for global evaluations, 2018–2021 (E/ICEF/2018/3)
- Plan for global evaluations, 2018–2021 [E/ICEF/2018/3]
- Correction [E/ICEF/2018/3/Corr.1]
- Presentation by Mr. George Laryea-Adjei, Director of Evaluation, UNICEF
Towards improved emergency responses: synthesis of UNICEF evaluations of humanitarian action 2010-2016
- Evaluation Report
- Executive Summary [E/ICEF/2018/4]
- Evaluation Management Response [E/ICEF/2018/5]
Reducing Stunting in Children Under 5 Years of Age: A comprehensive evaluation of UNICEF's strategies and programme performance - Global synthesis report*
- Evaluation Report
- Executive Summary [E/ICEF/2018/16]
- Evaluation Management Response [E/ICEF/2018/17]
*NOTE: The Executive Summary and Management Response listed above are titled “Evaluation of UNICEF strategies and programmes to reduce stunting in children under 5 years of age”, in accordance with the title used in the plan for global evaluations, 2018–2021, which was approved by the Executive Board at the 2018 first regular session.
Evaluation of the UNICEF Level 3 response to the cholera epidemic in Yemen: crisis within a crisis
- Evaluation Report
- Executive Summary [E/ICEF/2018/21]
- Evaluation Management Response [E/ICEF/2018/22]
- Plan for global thematic evaluations, 2014–2017: review and update for 2016–2017 [E/ICEF/2016/3]
- Increasing access and equity in early childhood education in the CEE/CIS region
- Protecting children from violence: a comprehensive evaluation of UNICEF's strategies and programme performance
- Equity, scalability and sustainability in UNICEF WASH programming: Evidence from UNICEF evaluations 2007-2015
- Annual report on the Evaluation Function [E/ICEF/2016/11]*
- Real-Time evaluation of UNICEF's humanitarian response to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines
- Evaluation of UNICEF's upstream work in basic education and gender equality 2003-2012
- Formative evaluation of UNICEF’s monitoring results for equity system (MoRES)
- Cash transfer as a social protection intervention: evidence from UNICEF Evaluations 2010-2014
- Annual report on the Evaluation Function [E/ICEF/2015/10] and management perspective
- Evaluation of the WASH Sector Strategy “Community Approaches to Total Sanitation” (CATS)
- Thematic synthesis report on evaluation of nutrition programmes [Management Response] (check back soon)
- UNICEF's Upstream Work in Basic Education and Gender Equality 2003-2012: Synthesis Report
- Real-Time Evaluation of UNICEF’s Response to the Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines
- Syria Crisis Common Context Analysis [Study] (check back soon)
For information, please find the plan for global thematic evaluations for the 2012-2013 period. Some topics which were not completed have been rolled over into the new plan (2014-2017).
Evaluations listed in the MTSP Integrated M&E Framework
- Evaluation of UNICEF's Cluster Lead Agency Role in Humanitarian Action (CLARE)
- Evaluation of UNICEF Programmes to Protect Children in Emergencies (CPiE) - Synthesis Report
- Evaluation of UNICEF's Emergency Preparedness Systems
- Evaluation of the WASH Sector Strategy "Community Approaches to Total Sanitation" (CATS)
- Formative Evaluation of Monitoring Results for Equity System (MoRES)
- UNICEF Evaluation of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS - Cluster 1 and 2) and (MICS 3)
- Upstream Work in Basic Education and Gender Equality (2003-2012)
Completed Evaluations listed in the 2010-2011 MTSP Integrated M&E Framework
- Evaluation of UNICEF's Early Childhood Development Programme with Focus on Government of Netherlands Funding (2008-2010): Global Synthesis Report
- Progress Evaluation of UNICEF Education in Emergencies & Post-Crisis Transition Programme (EEPCT)
- UNICEF Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS Campaign Evaluation
- Evaluation of UNICEF's Programme & Work in Relation to Adolescents and the Participation of Children & Young People
- Review of the Global Education Cluster Co-Leadership Arrangement
- Global Evaluation of the Application of the Human Rights-Based Approach to UNICEF Programming (HRBAP)
- Independent Review of UNICEF's Operational Response to the January 2010 Earthquake in Haiti
- Inter-Agency Real-Time Evaluation in Haiti: 3 months after the earthquake
- Inter-Agency Real-Time Evaluation of the Humanitarian Response to the Earthquake in Haiti (20 Months After)
- Inter-Agency Real-Time Evaluation (IA RTE) of the Humanitarian Response to Pakistan's 2009 Displacement Crisis
- Getting Ready for School: A Child-to-Child Approach
- Global Evaluation of Life Skills Education Programmes
The Progress Evaluation on the EEPCT Programme
- PREV EEPCT Evaluation Report
- Angola Case Study
- Colombia Case Study
- Cote d'Ivoire Case Study
- Liberia Case Study
- Philippines Case Study
- Sri Lanka Case Study
Basic Education and Gender Equality (BEGE) Country level evaluations in Executive Board Report
- Child Friendly Schools Programming: Global Evaluation Report
- An Assessment of Armenia’s Child-Friendly School Pilot Projects and CFS Standards for UNICEF Armenia
- Qualitative Evaluation of Child Friendly Schools (CFS) in Badulla & Batticaloa
- Child Friendly Schools Evaluation: Country Report for Thailand
- Evaluation of Inclusive Education Policies and Programmes in Armenia
- Evaluation Office: Children and the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: Evaluation of UNICEF's Response in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Maldives (2005-2008)
- East Asia and Pacific Region: Inter-agency real-time evaluation of the response to cyclone Nargis
- Europe and Central Asia Region: Gender mainstreaming in country programmes of cooperation
- Eastern and Southern African Region: Evaluation of "My Future is My Choice", an HIV prevention and life skills programme in Namibia
- Latin America and the Caribbean Region: Midterm evaluation of the Bolivian Health Support Programme (2006-2011)
- Middle East and North Africa Region: Evaluation of UNICEF support to improve access to quality education for Iraqi refugees in Syria
- South Asia Region: Evaluation of PRECISE, a comprehensive child injury prevention programme in Bangladesh
- West and Central Africa Region: Evaluation of the implementation of the integrated services package in elementary schools in Senegal
