Evaluation resource centre
Resources for evaluators and partners.
Tools
GEROS Handbook [2020]
This handbook aims to orient UNICEF personnel with the Global Evaluation Reports Oversight System (GEROS) – the UNICEF evaluation quality-assessment system.
Quality Checklist for Evaluation Terms of Reference [2017]
This checklist outlines key elements to include in the terms of reference of an evaluation, in alignment with United Nations Evaluation Group norms and standards.
Guidance
Evaluation Communication Advocacy Strategy [2024]
The UNICEF Evaluation Office has launched this strategy to enhance visibility and use of evaluative evidence, influencing decision-makers and stakeholders. This will include selected campaigns and knowledge management to foster an institutional environment supportive of evidence use, resource allocation, and learning.
UNICEF Evaluation Policy [2023]
The revised evaluation policy of UNICEF outlines evaluation purposes, principles and a theory of change; sets out key procedures and accountabilities for the governance of the function; establishes expectations for the coverage and use of evaluations; describes contributions to evaluation partnerships and national evaluation capacity development; highlights resource requirements; and concludes with a note on the implementation, reporting and periodic review of the policy.
Resolution: Strengthening VNR through Country-led Evaluation [2023]
On 26 April, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/77/283, encouraging countries to conduct SDG evaluations to strengthen their Voluntary National Reviews and use evaluative evidence for their decision-making.
Disability-Inclusive Evaluations in UNICEF: Guideline for Achieving UNDIS Standards [2022]
This guidance note was developed to guide the organization on the progress toward achieving the UNDIS Indicator 10 standards. The note presents tailored UNICEF considerations, good practices, and specific key considerations for action for disability-inclusive evaluations.
Procedure for Ethical Standards in Research, Evaluation, Data Collection and Analysis [2021]
These procedures for ethical standards in research, evaluation, data collection, and analysis establish minimum standards for UNICEF evaluations and ensure ethical oversight and accountability.
UNEG Ethical Guidance for Evaluation [2020]
The UNEG Ethical Guidelines for Evaluation were first published in 2008. This document is a revision of the original document and was approved at the UNEG AGM 2020. This document aims to support UN entity leaders and governing bodies as well as those organizing and conducting evaluations for the UN to ensure that an ethical lens informs day-to-day evaluation practice.
UNEG Evaluation Use in Practice [2020]
This paper constitutes the continued effort of the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) to promote the use of evaluation.
Guidance and Procedural Note on Managing Real-Time Evaluations Plus (RTE Plus) [2019]
This guidance note is intended for UNICEF headquarters, regional, and country office staff for planning, managing, and participating in a Real-Time Evaluation Plus of UNICEF’s Humanitarian Responses.
Guidance on Gender Integration in Evaluation [2019]
This guidance is intended as a “how-to” for integrating a gender lens in UNICEF evaluations.
Guidance Note for Conducting Evaluability Assessments in UNICEF [2019]
The objective of this guidance note is to introduce the concept of evaluability by providing a set of concise, practical, and user-friendly tools to support UNICEF, HQ, Regional, and Country Offices in the conduct of Evaluability Assessments.
Guidance Note: Adolescent participation in UNICEF monitoring and evaluation [2019]
This guidance note was created in response to that challenge, to assist UNICEF staff in determining what form of Adolescent Participation in Monitoring and Evaluation can best add value; how adolescents can be meaningfully, safely, and ethically involved in different contexts; what practical issues should be considered when designing and implementing participatory M&E activities; and what tools and resources can be used to support such a process.
UNICEF Evaluation Policy [2018]
The 2018 UNICEF evaluation policy outlines evaluation principles and procedures, defines key accountabilities, and more.
Procedure on the Implementation of the UNICEF Evaluation Policy [2018]
This procedure provides UNICEF staff with the requirements for implementing the evaluation policy, ensuring the organization and partners use evaluation for learning, continuous improvement, and strengthened accountability.
UNICEF Corporate Implementation Framework [2018]
The corporate implementation framework of the evaluation policy sets out specific actions required by various actors within UNICEF to implement the policy.
Evaluation Management Response: Guidance for UNICEF Staff [2018]
This document offers guidance to ensure individuals across the organization effectively respond to evaluation findings.
UNICEF Evaluation Report Standards [2017]
These standards serve as a guideline for UNICEF staff in the preparation and assessment of evaluation reports.
Quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the UN system (A/RES/71/243) [2016]
The quadrennial comprehensive policy review (QCPR) is the mechanism through which the General Assembly assesses the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, and impact of the United Nations operational activities for development, and it establishes system-wide policy orientations for operational activities for development.
UNEG Norms and Standards for Evaluation [2016]
These norms and standards from the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) serve as a key reference for evaluators around the globe.
UNEG Evaluation Use in the UN System: Conclusions from the Data [2016]
The United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) in its 2014 – 2019 strategy identified the use of evaluation as one of the key strategic objectives and set as a goal that “UN entities and partners use evaluation in support of accountability and programme learning”. The working group under this strategic objective has gathered data from within the UN system and contrasted these findings with academic research from outside the UN system. This document, “Evaluation use in the UN system” presents the results of this effort.
UNEG Principles of Working Together [2015]
These principles from the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) define the group's mission and approach.
Capacity building for the evaluation of development activities at the country level (A/RES/69/237) [2014]
This resolution emphasizes the importance of building capacities for the evaluation of development activities at the country level.
Integrating Human Rights and Gender Equality in Evaluation [2014]
This document from the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) guides and promotes the integration of human rights and gender equality in evaluation practice.
Ethical Research Involving Children [2013]
This document covers all aspects related to ethical research involving children’s participation in evaluation processes.
UNEG Code of Conduct for Evaluation in the UN System [2008]
These ethical guidelines from the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) apply to all evaluation staff and consultants in the United Nations system.
United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) Peer Review of the Evaluation Function of UNICEF
The OECD-DAC Network on Development Evaluation (EvalNet) and the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) maintain a Joint Task Force to support professional Peer Reviews of the evaluation function of UN organizations. Each Peer Review (PR) is intended to identify good practices and opportunities to further strengthen the evaluation function in the agency under review and to contribute ultimately to improved performance in international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance.
UNEG Peer Review of the Evaluation Function of UNICEF [2023]
In common with all United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) Peer Reviews, this report aims to identify existing good practices and to strengthen further the UNICEF evaluation function.
Peer Review of the Evaluation Function of UNICEF [2017]
In 2013, following another review of the function, the UNICEF Executive Board approved a Revised Evaluation Policy, which required UNICEF to undertake a peer review of the implementation of the policy after two years. In 2015, the Executive Board called upon UNICEF to contact UNEG to conduct the second peer review of the evaluation function.
Peer Review of the Evaluation Function of UNICEF [2006]
The first DAC-UNEG Peer Review of the evaluation function at UNICEF was conducted in 2006, which led to the preparation of the first evaluation policy for the organization, approved by the UNICEF Executive Board in 2008. The Peer Review of UNICEF's evaluation function aims to assess and enhance the organization's evaluation capacity and performance, thereby helping to improve its development performance.
Webinars and Online Learning in Evaluation
UNICEF Evaluation YouTube channel
Explore our collection of webinars and other video resources.
Introducing evaluation of humanitarian action
Based on the ALNAP Pilot Guide on 'Evaluating Humanitarian Action', this e-learning is the first of its kind. This course offers an overview of evaluation practice in humanitarian contexts and features concrete guidance, tips, and insights from experienced practitioners.
Evaluation in Humanitarian Settings
This course complements the e-learning course on the decentralized evaluation function at UNICEF and provides an orientation to the evaluation process in humanitarian situations.
e-Courses programme in Development Evaluation
This e-Courses programme is composed of an introductory class, fixed courses, independent units, and a create-your-own-course option with EvalPartners. The aim is to further improve the courses based on the feedback received by participants.
