Overview

The United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) is an interagency professional network bringing together the evaluation units of the UN system, including UN departments, specialized agencies, funds and programmes, and affiliated organizations.

Initially called the Inter-agency Working Group for Evaluation (IAWG), it had just 18 members operating informally.  Today, UNEG has 54 member agencies and 7 observers (see Membership). 

UNEG's operational strategies are outlined in the  UNEG Strategy 2020-2024 and it operates under a set of agreed protocols outlined in the UNEG Principles of Working Together.

To increase its strategic focus and effectiveness, since 2014, UNEG has been working according to a five-year Strategy that guides its work to foster and harmonize evaluation practice in the UN system. It is testimony to the expertise and experience members bring to create a better UNEG for a better UN.

The 2020-2024 Strategy focuses on common goals; establishes intended outcomes and results; and reflects on the diversity and strength of its membership. It also considers decisions related to UN development system reform, and the challenges and opportunities facing the evaluation community in the SDG era.

The UNEG Strategy defines its Vision and Mission, namely:

Vision

UNEG envisions that evaluations, at all levels, produce evidence that is used to: inform relevant, efficient and effective delivery of the Agenda 2030 and other UN commitments and compacts; contribute to good governance and oversight of the UN system; and ultimately impact the lives of the people we serve (UNEG PWT 2022).

Mission

UNEG’s mission is to promote, strengthen and advocate for a robust, influential, independent and credible evaluation function throughout the UN system for decision-making, accountability and learning. UNEG aims to:

• Set the UN evaluation normative framework to reflect emerging or innovative developments as well as good practices in evaluation
• Provide a forum for professional engagement, support and exchange globally and locally.
• Advocate for the strategic use of evaluations in all UN entities and beyond to inform decision- making and enhance results.
• Influence evaluation practices in all entities of the UN system.
• Encourage partnerships for joint evaluation.

The Strategy also set out three Strategic Objectives (SOs) to focus UNEG’s work, namely:

• Develop and safeguard professional norms, standards and guidance.
• Enhance professionalization and capacity and
• Influence policy-making and operational work through evaluations.

It is inline with these Strategic Objectives that UNEG defines its annual work plan.

The UNEG Annual General Meeting (AGM) is the decision-making body of UNEG for decisions requiring full membership agreement such as policy, normative and programmatic decisions. Decisions are, in principle, taken by consensus but may be put to a vote if requested by a minimum of five Members present.

The AGM provides the forum for UNEG Heads to discuss, adopt and review UNEG’s five-year Strategy; review progress and deliverables from the previous UNEG annual work programme; endorse the UNEG Annual Report presented by the Chair; and determine and adopt the UNEG annual work programme for the upcoming year, including tentative funding envelopes for activities.

Only UNEG Heads or their designated representative may represent the member agency in any formal approval or voting capacity.

Between AGMs, when decisions require agreement of the full membership, the UNEG Chair can convene a virtual Extraordinary General Meeting.

Executive Steering Committee

Outside of the AGM, the UNEG Executive Steering Committee (ESC) is responsible for day-to-day operational decisions concerning UNEG’s work programme (as mandated by the AGM), funding and quality assurance.

Specifically, the ESC keeps abreast of and is responsible for: guiding and coordinating work being carried out by the UNEG Work Groups; issuing joint statements (in consultation with UNEG membership); and monitoring progress towards expected results defined in each Strategic Objective.

The ESC is comprised of the UNEG Chair and no more than five UNEG vice-Chairs. The composition of the ESC aims to reflect the diversity and balance of UNEG members in terms of: institutional type, gender, size and location. ESC members are mutually accountable and collegial.