DAC guidelines and reference series quality standards for development evaluation

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The DAC Quality Standards for Development Evaluation have been developed to provide guidance for good practice in development evaluation.  

Developed through a process of drafting, trialling and reviewing by members of the OECD DAC Network on Development Evaluation, the document sets out standards in terms of: overarching considerations; purpose, planning and design; implementation and reporting; and follow-up, use and learning.

The document is also available French, German (PDF, 2.1MB), Korean (PDF, 2.6MB), Portuguese (PDF, 782KB), Spanish (PDF, 1.3MB).

Français: Normes de qualité pour l’évaluation du développement

Contents

1 Overarching considerations
  • 1.1 Development evaluation       
  • 1.2 Free and open evaluation process      
  • 1.3 Evaluation ethics        
  • 1.4 Partnership approach       
  • 1.5 Co-ordination and alignment      
  • 1.6 Capacity development       
  • 1.7 Quality control        
2 purpose, planning and design       
  • 2.1 Rationale and purpose of the evaluation     
  • 2.2 Specific objectives of the evaluation     
  • 2.3 Evaluation object and scope      
  • 2.4 Evaluability        
  • 2.5 Stakeholder involvement       
  • 2.6 Systematic consideration of joint evaluation    
  • 2.7 Evaluation questions       
  • 2.8 Selection and application of evaluation criteria    
  • 2.9 Selection of approach and methodology     
  • 2.10 Resources        
  • 2.11 Governance and management structures     
  • 2.12 Document defining purpose and expectations    
3 Implementation and reporting 
  • 3.1 Evaluation team 
  • 3.2 Independence of evaluators vis-à-vis stakeholders 
  • 3.3 Consultation and protection of stakeholders 
  • 3.4 Implementation of evaluation within allotted time and budget 
  • 3.5 Evaluation report 
  • 3.6 Clarity and representativeness of summary 
  • 3.7 Context of the development intervention 
  • 3.8 Intervention logic 
  • 3.9 Validity and reliability of information sources 
  • 3.10 Explanation of the methodology used 
  • 3.11 Clarity of analysis 
  • 3.12 Evaluation questions answered 
  • 3.13 Acknowledgement of changes and limitations of the evaluation 
  • 3.14 Acknowledgement of disagreements within the evaluation team 
  • 3.15 Incorporation of stakeholders’ comments 
4 Follow-up, use and learning 
  • 4.1 Timeliness, relevance and use of the evaluation 
  • 4.2 Systematic response to and follow-up on recommendations 
  • 4.3 Dissemination 

Sources

OECD DAC (2010) DAC Guidelines and Reference Series. Quality Standards for Development Evaluation, Evaluation Network of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/development/evaluation/qualitystandards.pdf

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