Evaluation aims to increase transparency and the shared accountability for achieving the ILO's strategic objectives. Evaluation focuses on the extent to which ILO performance is on track, where potential for improvement exists, and actions to be taken. Insights and lessons learned are fed back into the process of organizational learning and the planning and programming of future activities. The Evaluation Unit will be releasing new internal guidelines in June. All internal guidance can be consulted by ILO staff on the EVAL intranet pages, a link to which is on home page of this public site. Contact the EVAL intranet administrator for further questions.
1. Strategy and policy evaluation
Evaluations of ILO strategies and policies assess their effectiveness and impact. Following ILO’s frameworks to programme and budget against a limited number of priority objectives and associated outcomes (the Strategic Policy Framework and the biennial Programme and Budget), these high-level evaluations focus on the continued relevance, as well as how to improve effectiveness, efficiency, potential for impact and sustainability of the associated strategies.
2. Country programme evaluation
Country programme evaluations are a means to systematically review progress and approaches being taken in selected countries. They assess the relevance of ILO’s country-level work for its national constituents and consider the strategic alignment of ILO’s work with the activities and priorities of UN and other partners. They further assess the coherence, effectiveness and efficiency of approaches taken and their likelihood to produce long-term sustainable development results at country level.
3. Thematic evaluation
Thematic evaluations assess specific aspects, themes and processes of ILO's technical work, and also can focus on specific sectors, issues, or approaches. Thematic evaluations provide a means for ILO technical programmes to explore in depth the effectiveness and impact of major means of actions and interventions. These evaluations can draw from lessons learned at project level, both inside and outside the ILO.
4. Project evaluation
ILO project evaluations provide an opportunity for the Office and its funding partners to assess the appropriateness of design as it relates to the ILO's strategic and national policy framework, and consider the effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of project outcomes. Project evaluations also test underlying assumptions about contribution to a broader development goal.
5. Internal review
As part of its evaluation policy, the ILO will conduct periodic internal reviews of its major programmes and organizational strategies. These reviews that focus more on organizational issues will identify opportunities for improvement by building on strengths and addressing issues that may hamper effectiveness. They are meant to integrate into the analysis the knowledge people have of their programmes and the stake they have in seeing these improve.