What a UN Evaluator Needs to know: How to Manage UN Evaluations in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Overview

The course is designed to equip UN staff with the knowledge and skills to design, commission and manage evaluations to strengthen the oversight, transparency, accountability and collective learning arrangements of the United Nations development system to enable continual enhancement of its contributions to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Introduction

The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development opened a new page in the history of mankind with all nations united by the same 17 Sustainable Development Goals, 169 targets and 230 indicators to build a sustainable, inclusive, prosperous, and stable societies for all people, leaving no one behind.

Independent evaluation has an important role to play in strengthening the oversight, transparency, accountability and collective learning arrangements of the United Nations development system to enable continual enhancement of its contributions to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.

The United Nations System Staff College Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development collaborates with the UN Evaluation Group (UNEG) in organizing and delivering this joint course. UNEG will, as knowledge experts in the field of evaluation, provide input and support to the development and implementation of this training, and participate in segments of it. The collaboration will harness know-how across the UN system on evaluations and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Structured around the UN system-wide approach to evaluations and using UNDAF evaluation process as the UN common evaluation example, the course is to develop capacities of UN staff - currently or potentially involved in the evaluation process - to design, commission, manage and use evaluations in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Upon the completion of the course, participants will be provided with an opportunity to join and benefit from the online-facilitated Community of Practice with UN Evaluation professionals.

Objectives

By the end of the course, UN staff will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to design, commission and manage evaluations to strengthen the oversight, transparency, accountability and collective learning arrangements of the United Nations development system to enable continual enhancement of its contributions to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Specific Objectives:  By the end of the course, participants will:

• Have a common understanding of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN Reform and their implications for the UN development system effective country-level interventions;
• Have a better understanding of what is evaluation, different types of evaluation, and the role of evaluation in the UN system, with a special emphasis on the UNDAF evaluation;
• Have developed competencies to design, commission, manage and use evaluations in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
• Exchange experiences, lessons learned and good practices emanating from the UN system and international cooperation.

Course Methodology

The course will adopt a blended format of instructional sessions, experience sharing and peer-to-peer learning. Participants will also work on real-world examples and exercises to strengthen learning retention and application.

Course enrolment will be limited to 25 participants to maximise interaction with course instructors and derive most benefit out of the small group work. 

The course will be, to the extent possible, tailored to the realities and contexts of the participants of each edition by using contextualised adjusted examples, case studies and exercises.

Target Audience

UN Programme staff, involved in programme management, supporting and contributing to evaluations, UN Strategic planners, Chairs/members of UNDAF results and M&E groups and staff from UN Resident Coordinator’s Office. 

Course enrolment eligibility and requirements 

Solid understanding and practical experience in the Results-based management and/or programming is mandatory for this course and participants should have been trained (formally or on-job) in Results-based management.
Cost of participation

The course fee covers the following:

• Four-days of training with a balance of presentations and group work on case studies and exercises
• Exclusive access to our online learning platform with training and supporting background materials, and the opportunity to stay connected with colleagues
• Access to the online-facilitated Community of Practice with UN Evaluation professionals
• All course materials, resources and contacts
• Participants are expected to cover all travel costs related to their attendance in the course.

Certification

Joint Certificates of Attendance from the UN System Staff College and UN Evaluation Group will be awarded to participants who complete the course.

Event Details