Modality and timeline of the evaluation
The modality for the evaluation proposed in the Note of the Secretary-General, after consultation with Member States, of 21 May 2010 referred to in the 2010 resolution on system-wide coherence seeks to produce a highly professional, independent, yet, inclusive evaluation, within the given time frame. Oversight is provided by an Evaluation Management Group (EMG), which is composed of nine members nominated by Member States and appointed by the Secretary-General:
- (a) one expert from each of the five regions,
- (b) one expert each from two pilot countries, and
- (c) the Chairs (or appointed representatives) of the JIU and the United Nations Evaluations Group (UNEG).
The nomination and appointment process was finalized in early 2011 (Note of the Secretary-General A/65/737 and A/65/737/Add.1).
Members of the EMG act in their expert capacity and prepare the final terms of reference for the evaluation; determine the criteria for the selection of a highly professional evaluation team (consultants); oversee the selection of the evaluation team and the issuance of relevant contracts; review interim reports from the evaluation team; and based on a submission from the evaluation team, prepare the final report for the consideration of the General Assembly.
An international evaluation team composed of consultants with outstanding evaluation expertise and experience and including nationals of both developed and developing countries started its work in early July 2011. In addition, a Quality Assurance Panel (QAP) has been established to provide independent substantive and methodological advice. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) acts as the secretariat of the evaluation providing administrative, logistical and technical support to the EMG, ensuring a fully independent process. In light of the ad-hoc nature of the arrangements for the evaluation, additional extra-budgetary resources have been mobilized from Member States, on a voluntary basis, as well as from within the UN system to cover the cost of the evaluation.
The evaluation will be conducted in three phases:
- (a) an inception phase (from July to September 2011);
- (b) an implementation phase (from October 2011 to March 2012); and
- (c) a report writing phase (April - May 2012).
The final evaluation report will be presented by the Chair of the EMG to the President of the General Assembly during the 66th Session, which ends in September 2012.
