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Independent external evaluation of International Labour Organization Evaluation Function
When the ILO’s Governing Body adopted the Evaluation Policy in November 2005, it also stipulated that the policy be evaluated at the end of five years and this report commissioned to an external evaluation team is the result.
Associates for International Management Services (AIMS), a consulting firm made up of senior advisors with experience in evaluation of international organizations and results-based management -- but no previous work with the ILO -- was selected to conduct an independent external evaluation of the evaluation function (IEE) through an open competition.
AIMS conducted the IEE through a four-stage process based on the objectives and outcomes specified in the Evaluation Policy. The Policy’s three objectives deal with accountability, management, and lesson learning. The IEE started by examining the high-level evaluations, independent project evaluations and self-evaluations carried out within the ILO from 2005-2009. Interviews and focus groups with representatives of governments, workers, donors, employers, and senior management were then conducted during the March 2010 Governing Body session. These were followed by visits to three of the Regional Offices and further interviews were held at Headquarters in April.
Overall, the evaluation found that ILO made significant improvements to evaluation functions during the period under review. The IEE concluded that the Evaluation Policy itself is sound and needs little modification. The implementation of the Policy, however, includes a number of issues that need to be addressed in both structural and strategic terms.
