Evaluation Capacities to Advance Sustainable Development for All

Abstract

The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) plays a critical role in advancing the credibility of UNDP’s programme support and sustainable development. Providing an overview of IEO’s evaluation activities, this paper describes its mandate and approach in supporting accountability within UNDP and in building countries’ national evaluation capacities. Specifically, it suggests there is a need for investment in evaluation for greater development effectiveness at the country level. The paper illustrates challenges in linking national evaluation and Agenda 2030, and IEO’s initiatives to support countries in diagnosing their evaluation capacities. It suggests the efforts of the United Nations should focus on addressing institutional and process issues to accelerate evaluation capacities. To this end, the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG), as an interagency professional network, with its tools and expertise, should undertake advocacy efforts to advance the role of evaluation in the SDG follow up and review process.