Design and evaluation

IPEC places great importance on the effective design, monitoring and evaluation of its activities.

The design and planning process in IPEC is grounded on a solid knowledge base, stakeholder consultations and the use of planning and programming instruments within a logical framework. Regular monitoring ensures effective and efficient use of resources, execution of activities, delivery of outputs and progress towards the achievements of project objectives at all levels.

The evaluation approach, based on a consultative process to ensure utility of the evaluations, covers all activities ranging from individual projects to assess relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, unplanned effect and sustainability, to thematic and country-programme evaluations as essential tools for learning and accountability. Evaluation is seen as contributing to the building up of the knowledge base through identifying good practices to be used in action against child labour. It demonstrates accountability through showing how IPEC and its partners continually learn more about the most effective and relevant action.

Assessment of broader and longer term impact is done through developing innovative methodologies for impact assessment of child labour interventions, including tracing studies.

As part of its strategy on design, monitoring and evaluation, IPEC also develops and applies tools and approaches in the planning and implementation of its activities. These are customized to child labour activities in general and not specific to IPEC implemented activities. As part of its role as facilitator of knowledge on action on child labour, these are made available to partners.

The design process

The design process in IPEC is based upon the solid knowledge base of the context in which programmes and projects are place, sound methodologies based on stake holder consultation and use of planning and programming instruments based on logical framework approaches.

All programmes and projects are in the context of the ILO Strategic Policy Framework for IPEC and contributes to the framework of IPEC. This framework also covers non-project activities as expressed in the Global Monitoring Plan of IPEC.

The design process is and integral part of the programme/project cycle and guidelines related to design is therefore included under Evaluation.

The evaluation process

IPEC is implementing an evaluation strategy that covers the whole programme and project cycle from planning, design, monitoring, evaluation and knowledge building.

A series of methodologies, tools and guidelines have been developed by IPEC's Design, Evaluation and Documentation (DED) section to support the work of IPEC. Many of these are not specific to IPEC, but could be useful to partners working on interventions against child labour.

Strategic Programme Impact Framework (SPIF)

IPEC has developed a the Strategic Programme Impact Framework (SPIF) approach as strategic planning instrument based on existing and well tested approaches on planning and designing broad strategic programme frameworks.