Definition of Evaluation

Evaluation is a systematic and objective assessment of an ongoing or completed project, programme or policy, its design, implementation and results. The aim is to determine the relevance and fulfilment of objectives, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability  - as set out in the Evaluation Policy.

As a member of the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG), IEU contributes to professionalizing the evaluation function and uses evaluation best practices in line with the 2005 United Nations Evaluation Group's (UNEG) Norms and Standards, as set out in the Evaluation Policy and the Evaluation Handbook.

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DAC Criteria

When evaluating programmes and projects, the DAC (Development Assistance Committee) Criteria should be considered, as laid out in the DAC Principles for the Evaluation of Development Assistance. Additional criteria, such as Partnership or Innovation can be, and often are, included.

The DAC Criteria: Relevance, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Impact, Sustainability

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A. Relevance

The extent to which the aid activity is suited to the priorities and policies of the target group, recipient and donor.

In evaluating the relevance of a programme or a project, it is useful to consider the following questions:

1. To what extent are the objectives of the programme still valid?

2. Are the activities and outputs of the programme consistent with the overall goal and the attainment of its objectives?

3. Are the activities and outputs of the programme consistent with the intended impacts and effects?

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B. Effectiveness

A measure of the extent to which an aid activity attains its objectives.

In evaluating the effectiveness of a programme or a project, it is useful to consider the following questions:

1. To what extent were the objectives achieved/are likely to be achieved?

2. What were the major factors influencing the achievement or non-achievement of the objectives?

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C. Efficiency

Efficiency measures the outputs - qualitative and quantitative - in relation to the inputs. Is is an economic term which signifies that the aid uses the least costly resources possible in order to achieve the desired results. This generally requires comparing alternative approaches to achieving the same outputs, to see whether the most efficient process has been adopted.

When evaluating the efficiency of a programme or a project, it is useful to conider the following questions:

1. Were activities cost-efficient?

2. Were objectives achieved on time?

3. Was the programme or project implemented in the most efficient way compared to alternatives?

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D. Impact

The positive and negative changes produced by a development intervention, directly or indirectly, intended or unintended. This involves the main impacts and effects resulting from the activity on the local social, economic, environmental and other development indicators. The examination should be concerned with both intended and unintended results and must also include the positive and negative impact of external factors, such as changes in terms of trade and financial conditions.

When evaluating the impact of a programme or a project, it is useful to consider the following questions:

1. What has happened as a result of the programme or project?

2. What real difference has the activity made to the beneficiaries?

3. How many people have been affected?

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E. Sustainability

Sustainability is concerned with measuring whether the benefits of an activity are likely to continue after donor funding has been withdrawn. Projects need to be environmentally as well as financially sustainable.

When evaluating the sustainability of a programme or project, it is useful to consider the following questions:

1. To what extent did the benefits of a programme or project continue after donor funding ceased?

2. What were the major factors which influenced the achievement or non-achievement of sustainability of the programme or project?