Strategic Objective 3
Pilot Independent System Wide Evaluation
(ISWE)
Progress, Emerging Lessons and Next Steps
Background
• Since 2013, UNEG has engaged in setting up a new pilot approach
which leverages existing capacities and mandates to create a new
evaluation partnership
• Strong demand from ECOSOC to enable decision making for
QCPR
• General Assembly Resolutions (68/311 and 68/226)
• Testing period 2014 to 2016 to include two evaluations testing
synthesis and comprehensive approaches
• General Assembly to conduct independent review in 2016
• UNEG has engaged at the policy and strategic levels through the
Chair in 2013 and 2015 and the Vice Chairs since April 2015.
• UNEG members engaged as members of EMGs and as financial
contributors
UNEG’s Role
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Play a championing function in particular as regards to
promoting the use of ISWE results at all levels;
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Develop support tools and approaches for joint evaluations;
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Support UNDOCO to strengthen UNDAF evaluations;
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UNEG Executive Committee participation in the ICM;
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Individual UNEG member agencies participate on a voluntary
basis in EMGs (UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA, UNDP, WFP, UNHabitat, WHO, ILO, FAO, UNODC, UNCTAD).
UNEG Work Plan
At last year’s AGM, the 2015/2016 the following was included in
UNEG’s formal programme of work:
Outcome 3.4 of the Work Plan was “UNEG effectively engaged
with the ISWE mechanism and work programme”;
 Participation by the ICM Vice Chairs (SO3 and SO4) in the
meetings of the ICM to develop the mechanism and bring in
UNEG views, technical perspectives and expertise;
 Keeping the UNEG membership updated on progress with
ISWE throughout the year
 UNEG member organizations volunteer to participate in the
two EMGs set up for both pilot evaluations.
ISWE Coordination Function
The policy framework sets the general framework for the
Coordinator’s function:

Operates as a separate unit which is hosted at the JIU offices
in New York reporting to the JIU Executive Secretary (para
47). Relies on JIU Secretariat for contracts and agreements;

Provides a range of general support functions related to the
evaluation management cycle (conceptual, budgetary,
logistical, outreach);
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Conducts resource mobilization;
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Serves as Focal Point for UNEG Liaison;
Resources
•
•
•
•
JIU Executive Secretary, Inspectors and staff time
2 year OCHA Secondment
UNEG Member Contributions (USD 250,000)
UNEG Members Staff Time for EMGs and ICM ( 12
agencies)
• Extra Budgetary contributions from Norway,
Switzerland and Ireland (USD 428,000)
ISWE Results
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Establishment of EMGs and KSRGs
Engagement of 6 experts;
Scoping Study and a detailed Inception Design and Plan for Draft
UNDAF meta evaluation and synthesis in December 2015 (currently
under revision);
Draft report for the statistical capacities evaluation in April 2016
(currently under review);
2 ECOSOC side event briefings in 2015 & 2016;
2 UN Statistical Commission Side Events briefings in 2015 & 2016;
ICM Road map for 2015 and 2016;
Terms of reference for the independent review of the ISWE policy.
Some Emerging Lessons
• Operationalizing the framework has been a challenge
with late and intermittent funding
• Need for a fully capacitated coordination function
• The period available for testing has been truncated with
high transaction costs
• Need to manage reputational risks
• Readiness of agencies to take on extra requirements of
ISWE requires further development
• High relevance for SDG/2030 agenda encouraging
systems thinking, multi stakeholder approaches and
partnerships
Inclusion in next UNEG Work Plan
• Participation in advisory group for the GA’ s independent review of
ISWE
• Continued agency engagement in the EMGs and ECOSOC
dialogues
• Participation in planned ISWE events:
– Geneva event with Member States and Agency Heads
– Regional Groups and Member State briefings
– ECOSOC dialogues on policy review, financing and future
topics and ISWE mechanism
– Dialogues with General Assembly during QCPR