Policy instruction: Evaluations

The policy seeks to strengthen the institutional framework for the conduct of evaluation
activities by OCHA and to establish a common understanding and approach to the function.

Evaluation is a routine function which promotes transparency and accountability through the
provision of systematic and objective judgments about the relevance, efficiency,
effectiveness and impact of humanitarian intervention. Evaluation facilitates systematic
reflection, learning and decision making around issues of enhanced effectiveness and impact
in the future. OCHA uses evaluation both as a tool for assessing its own coordination
activities and as a direct support to the international humanitarian community through the
application of system-wide and joint evaluation processes at the request of the Inter-Agency
Standing Committee (IASC), the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC)1
or the United Nations
General Assembly.