The Independent Evaluation Section (IES) delivers products and services in line with its three strategic pillars of mandated work.
Pillar 1: Evaluation Capacity Development and SDGs: IES supports UNODC staff in strengthening its capacity for planning, implementing and using evaluations. Under this pillar, IES also develops Evaluation Guidelines, Templates and Tools - and this includes the innovative web-based application Unite Evaluations, which is used for all phases and processes of UNODC evaluations.
Read more below about Unite Evaluations. See also the 2-page Unite Evaluations Brief.
In line with the UNODC Strategy 2021-2025: "Using innovative web-based tools and systems will ensure that evaluations respond to the constantly evolving challenges, such as COVID-19, and produce actionable recommendations."
IES has produced a Unite Evaluations User Manual for Programme Managers and evaluation focal points at UNODC. The User Manual guides and provides information on how to initiate an evaluation in Unite Evaluations, further covering the full cycle in the evaluation process. Click here for the User Manual (English; Spanish).
Unite Evaluations is a web-based evaluation management and knowledge sharing application. Through using it for all phases and processes of UNODC evaluations, the application also provides insights on the evaluation portfolio, as well as facilitates access to evaluation recommendations and lessons learned.
The benefits of Unite Evaluations are many, serving three major purposes: 1. Planning for Evaluation; 2. Managing Evaluations; and 3. Sharing and Disseminating Knowledge.
The tool contributes to the delivery of all three pillars of IES work by: a) responding to UN Reforms by increasing transparency and accountability; b) implementing aspects of the UN Secretary-General's Strategy on New Technologies; c) strengthening evaluation capacity by fully transparent workflows; d) generating knowledge on an aggregate level; e) increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of evaluation processes; f) disseminating evaluation results; g) facilitating access to evaluation recommendations.
The MOPAN 2019 Assessment of UNODC found that UNODC's accountability system has "improved with the introduction of Unite Evaluations" and that it "facilitate(s) the utilization of lessons. It makes it easier to navigate, filter and extract lessons."
Unite Evaluations is further praised by many UN evaluation functions and the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) has also highlighted Unite Evaluations as a "notable good practice in evaluation management" (A/74/67), as well as "a noteworthy example of advancements made for reporting evaluation results vis-à-vis the SDGs." (OIOS IES-19-001)
