Evaluation at NZAID

Evaluations of development activities are an essential component of NZAID's work. Evaluation is the assessment of planned, ongoing or completed development projects. Evaluations should be as systematic and objective as possible. NZAID carries out evaluations for accountabililty, learning and improvement purposes. NZAID also defines evaluation in a more restricted sense as the assessment of outcomes and/or impact of a nearing completion or completed development activity.

At NZAID evaluations are complemented by reviews, which take place at key points during the lifetime of a development activity. Reviews gain a better understanding of what is being achieved and identify how implementation can be improved.

The reviews and evaluations of development activities are commisoned and managed by the Pacific and Global Programme Groups at NZAID. Advisers from the Strategy Advisory and Evaluation Group (SAEG) provide support and advice and may participate in some of these studies. SAEG commissions and manages cross-cutting and sectoral or thematic evaluations and monitors the NZAID's continuous programme of reviews and evaluations.

Reviews and evaluations can be undertaken jointly and/or collaboratively with NZAID’s partners and key stakeholders. Inclusive evaluation approaches including the use of participatory methods, helps to facilitate shared use of evaluative information and knowledge by NZAID, our development partners and other donors.

NZAID has established an Evaluation and Research Committee to provide oversight of evaluative activities and research studies and to ensure close feedback between evaluative activities and programme planning and development.

All reviews and evaluations commissioned by NZAID are presented to the Committee for advice on actions to be taken in response to findings and recommendations, and to consider implications for planning. This ensures a systematic approach to evaluation and that learning is communicated throughout NZAID. Studies commissioned by other organisations may also be discussed by the Evaluation and Research Committee.