With the introduction of result-based management the ILO has reinforced its commitment to transparency, effectiveness and organizational learning by establishing a more substantial, effective and independent evaluation function in the ILO. In 2005, the ILO established a central Evaluation Unit and revised its policy to conform to United Nations norms and standards for evaluation. Following an independent external evaluation (IEE) of ILO’s evaluation function in 2010 the policy was extended for another 5 years and strategy was adjusted to address some of the shortcomings identified. A general conclusion of the IEE was that ILO’s evaluation policy is generally sound but that a stronger link was required between evaluation and decision-making.
Annual reporting of the evaluation function at ILO:
The Evaluation Unit reports to the Governing Body every year during the November session. This year's November 2011 report will present one country evaluation on the Decent Work Programme in the State of Bahia, Brazil, as well as two strategy evaluations on discrimination in the workplace and HIV/AIDS and the world of work. Summaries of high-level evaluations are available as Governing Body documents (see listing in the right menu). The full evaluation reports will be available through our web site sections on Country Programme Evaluations or Strategic Evaluations.
Every year EVAL also produces an Annual Evaluation Report (AER). For 2011 the report format has been adjusted to reflect the new result-based evaluation strategy. The report will continue to provide oversight on the follow-up to recommendations for high-level and centralized and decentralized project evaluations. The new AER format aims to enhance reporting on overall effectiveness of ILO programmes and projects based on a synthesis of results, quality and lessons learned from the various programmes, project and thematic evaluations undertaken.
i-eval Flash News – The evaluation newsletter
EVAL has a quarterly newsletter that offers highlights and news on evaluation activities in ILO.
The ILO evaluation policy specifies five types of evaluation:
Strategy and policy evaluation
Country programme evaluation
Thematic evaluation
Project evaluation
Internal review
Project evaluations
More than 350 Summaries are available under Project Evaluations, listed by year. There is also a free text search box in the right menu of the Evaluation Reports page providing the option to search for specific text. For even more refined searches, it is better to use the i:Track database described below. For Spanish and French evaluation reports, please click on these language versions of the website.
I:Track evaluation database - Searching for a specific evaluation report
Specific searches for evaluation reports can be conducted with the i-Track database using a number of different search criteria. Go to http://www.ilo.org/itrack using the login information below. One can select by “region”, “country”, "document type”, etc. The more criteria you enter, the smaller your query results, so don’t enter too many on the first query. Do not use “Title” searches unless you are certain of the wording of the exact title. For questions concerning i-Track searches, please email the database administrator.
Userid: ILO Password: view
Internal guidance documents and internal evaluations are listed on the EVAL Intranet site only.
Strengthening independent project and strategic evaluations within the ILO
This includes the provision of guidelines for selection, financing, implementation and dissemination of independent evaluations.
Reinforcing self-evaluation as a management tool
ILO's commitment to results-based management is reinforced through EVAL support to improving practices for self-assessment and participatory internal review. This facilitates organizational learning, re-alignment and support to independent evaluation and covers projects as well as Decent Work Country Programmes.
Building evaluation capacity and accountability within the ILO
Through improved oversight of evaluation activities and upgrading knowledge management systems EVAL has improved evaluation capacity at headquarters and in field offices. EVAL will continue to strengthen evaluation culture within ILO expanding access to and use of evaluation findings and understanding and application of international standard evaluation practices.
Knowledge development
EVAL's recommendation follow-up encourages a dynamic use of evaluation findings. Through providing direct access to evaluation recommendations, lessons learned and observed good practices taken from evaluations, EVAL underpins knowledge development in ILO, providing evidence-based approaches on what works, what doesn't work and why.