About Evaluation in UNICEF
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
Our evaluation policy is endorsed by the UNICEF Executive Board, which provides oversight of policy implementation. The Board also endorses the plan for global evaluations, 2022-2025 and draws on evaluation findings and recommendations for the purposes of governing UNICEF. The Board approves the budget of the Evaluation Office.
Executive Director
The Executive Director safeguards the integrity of the evaluation function, creates demand for evaluation evidence, ensures that evaluation recommendations are acted upon, and supports the provision of human and financial resources. The Executive Director is also responsible for fostering a culture of learning and accountability at all levels of 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 is accountable for the oversight of the evaluation function and leads the implementation of the evaluation policy, including by conducting independent global evaluations and developing methodologies for evaluations.
Audit Advisory Committee
The Audit Advisory Committee advises the Executive Director on matters pertaining to the oversight of the evaluation function and the implementation of the evaluation policy. The committee, which includes an external expert on evaluation, helps to uphold norms and standards set out in the evaluation 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
UNICEF headquarters’ division directors establish baselines and test pilots, foster continuous improvement in the delivery of programmes, ensure access to data and information, provide management responses to evaluations, promote the use of evaluation results for decision-making, and support 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 dedicated to the evaluation function, credible evaluations are conducted and used, and evaluation findings inform decision-making. They also ensure good communication with Government officials and other partners in support of the evaluation process. Multi-country-level and country evaluation specialists manage evaluations.
