Evaluation of the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2018–2021: Summary (FRS 2021)
E/ICEF/2021/5
About
The present evaluation of the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2018–2021 is the first of its kind. Its primary purpose is to assess the use of the Strategic Plan as a tool for guiding UNICEF and for managing its activities; facilitate learning from UNICEF experience during the implementation period of the Strategic Plan (2018 –2021); and provide actionable recommendations with respect to the organization’s overall strategy and strategic planning process for the upcoming strategic planning cycle.
Overall, the evaluation found that the Strategic Plan was highly relevant and strongly aligned with the UNICEF mission, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals. It was appreciated by stakeholders for providing a holistic framework while permitting the flexibility required to align programmes at the country level with national priorities and children’s rights. The change strategies of the Strategic Plan were considered a particularly important innovation. At the same time, challenges were observed in relation to multisectoral programming, strengthening the humanitarian-development nexus, monitoring and reporting, child participation and the distribution of resources, among other issues. The evaluation makes a series of recommendations in relation to these issues as well as for strengthening the UNICEF contributions to the United Nations development system reform agenda.
