UNEG Norms and Standards for Evaluation in the UN System

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UNEG Foundation Document 2016

UNEG Norms and Standards for Evaluation in the UN System

Overview

The United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) Norms and Standards for Evaluation adopted in 2005, served as a landmark document for the United Nations and beyond. It successfully strengthened and harmonized evaluation practice, and served as a key reference for evaluators around the globe.

In order to ensure its continued relevance in guiding and further strengthening evaluation practices, the Norms and Standards were revised in 2016. The revision took in to account the evolving context and increasing demands for accountability and national ownership in evaluation; and reflected the many changes in global, regional and national contexts and in the practice of evaluation.

In February 2025, a new Norm (11) and Standard on Environmental and Social Impacts was approved at the UNEG Annual General Meeting. Prepared by the UNEG Environmental and Social Impact Working Group, the norm and standard are an addendum to the full document.

The eleven general norms should be upheld in the conduct of any evaluation; the four institutional norms should be reflected in the management and governance of evaluation functions. The associated standards support the implementation of these normative principles.