Final Report: System-Wide Evaluation of the UNDS Response to COVID-19

The System-Wide Evaluation (SWE) of the UNDS Socio-economic Response to COVID-19 was conducted for the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) of the United Nations under the guidance and management of the Senior Coordinator for SWE. It builds on experience gained during the Early Lessons and Evaluability Study of the UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) carried out from October 2020 to April 2021. The report benefits from the application of a system-wide lens to assess the effectiveness of the UNDS response to COVID 19 over an extended time frame.

The evaluation serves to provide an assessment of the UNDS socio-economic response to COVID19, supported by an analysis of how UNDS reforms have enabled and/or constrained that response. It also provides an assessment of how well the UNDS response has integrated action on the core UN values of Human Rights, Gender Equality, Inclusion (including persons with disabilities) and Leave No-One Behind (HR/GE/LNOB). Finally, by addressing the socio-economic response from 2020 to mid-2022, the evaluation was able to identify barriers and recommend changes which can better position the UNDS to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs and the realization of Agenda 2030.

The evaluation identifies important lessons not only for responding to future global development emergencies, but for building on achievements during the pandemic to accelerate progress toward the SDGs through cohesive and coherent UNDS support to national stakeholders. While the scope of the evaluation is global, its primary focus is the coherence and strategic focus of the UNDS response at country level.