About Evaluation in UNICEF
Understanding UNICEF’s Independent Evaluation Function Governance of the Evaluation Function.
The UNICEF Evaluation function helps UNICEF deliver results for children by fostering evidence-based decision-making.
The Evaluation Office works with other divisions at UNICEF headquarters and with regional offices, country offices and partners worldwide to conduct dozens of evaluations each year. Utility, credibility and independence form the bedrock of our practice.
Executive Board
UNICEF’s evaluation policy is endorsed by the UNICEF Executive Board, which oversees its implementation. The Board also approves the plan for global evaluations, 2022-2025 and uses evaluation findings and recommendations to guide its governance of UNICEF. In addition, it approves the budget of the Evaluation Office.
Executive Director
The Executive Director safeguards the independence and integrity of the Evaluation Function, promotes use of evaluation evidence and ensures that recommendations are acted upon. The Executive Director also supports the provision of human and financial resources for evaluation and fosters a culture of learning and accountability at all levels throughout the organization. In consultation with the Executive Board and the Audit Advisory Committee, the Executive Director appoints the Director of Evaluation.
Director of Evaluation
The Director of Evaluation s responsible for the overseeing the Evaluation Function and leading the implementation of UNICEF’s evaluation policy. This includes conducting independent global evaluations and advancing evaluation methodologies.
Audit Advisory Committee
The Audit Advisory Committee provides guidance to the Executive Director on the oversight of the Evaluation Function and the implementation of UNICEF’s evaluation policy. With an external evaluation expert among its members, the committee, helps to uphold norms and standards outlined in the policy.
Evaluation Advisory Panel
The Evaluation Advisory Panel is an independent, external body that advises the Director of Evaluation on the implementation of the evaluation policy and recommends improvements to evaluation methodologies.
Global Evaluation Committee
The Global Evaluation Committee is internal to UNICEF. It creates opportunities for the use of evaluation evidence and follows up on the implementation of management responses.
Headquarter, Regional and Country Offices
Directors of Divisions at UNICEF contribute to continuous programme improvement by establishing baselines, testing pilot initiatives and ensuring access to data and information. They also provide management responses to evaluations, promote the use of evaluation results for decision-making, and support efforts to strengthen evaluation capacity development.
In UNICEF Regional Offices, Directors ensure the upholding of evaluation policy norms and standards, the timely conduct of evaluations and preparation of management responses, and access to data and information. Regional evaluation advisers provide oversight and technical support to UNICEF country offices as they execute their evaluation responsibilities.
In UNICEF Country Offices, Representatives ensure that adequate resources are allocated to the Evaluation Function, that evaluations are credible and used effectively, and that evaluation findings inform decision-making. They also maintain strong communication with government counterparts and other partners to support the evaluation process. Evaluations are managed by multi-country-level and country evaluation specialists.
