Institution Background
As a global leader in security risk management principles, UNDSS is responsible for providing leadership, operational support and oversight of the United Nations security management system (UNSMS) worldwide. Present in 131 countries where UN operates, UNDSS enables the safe and effective delivery of United Nations programmes and activities in the most complex and challenging environments, while maximizing resources. To this end, the work of the Department is aligned under a clear mission, to enable United Nations system programme activities through trusted security leadership and solutions.
Evaluation Function
Independence: To safeguard the independence of the Department’s evaluation function, the Compliance, Evaluation and Monitoring Section (CEMS) is part of the Strategic Planning Service under the Office of the Under-Secretary-General (OUSG) for Safety and Security. The Chief of the Service reports directly to the USG, and the evaluation budget is under the OUSG.
Agenda setting and planning: Based on the Department’s current needs, CEMS prepares and presents a proposal of an annual evaluation plan for a final theme selection by the Department’s senior management, followed by USG’s endorsement. The plan proposal includes strategic and thematic evaluations spanning across all the Department’s sub-programmes, and due consideration is given to ensure balanced evaluation coverage. The overarching criteria guiding the final topic selection are:
- The extent to which the evaluation findings and recommendations will enable or advance realization of the UNDSS strategic intent and initiatives
- The extent to which the evaluation findings and recommendations will quickly translate into operational impact
Quality assurance: The quality assurance process combines CEMS reviews and quality checks against the existing OIOS and UNEG guidelines, as well as internal and external peer reviews, including OIOS Evaluation Support Team.
Use of evaluation: With the aim of making the evaluation useful, increasing stakeholder and management buy-in and ensuring follow-up actions, all evaluation recommendations are followed up with a management response. The response includes a specific and targeted action plan delineating responsibilities for implementation of each accepted recommendation. The proposed action plan is communicated to and endorsed by heads of responsible units prior to its release.
Joint evaluation: Not applicable
