Article type
Abstract
The Evaluation Synthesis Working Group is an active part of the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG), which itself is an interagency, voluntary professional network bringing together UN system evaluation units. UN agencies increasingly synthesize their evaluations, as either single- or multiagency exercises. These can include only evaluation evidence or triangulate findings from UN evaluations with other research evidence.
The past 2 years have seen a step-change in evaluation synthesis, with more UN agencies undertaking syntheses, and an increasing recognition of the utility of this approach to making effective use of the large evaluative evidence base for identifying what works to accelerate progress toward the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This is demonstrated in the establishment and progress of the Global SDG Synthesis Coalition, a multistakeholder group focused on producing a series of syntheses under the 5 SDG pillars (Peace, Planet, Prosperity, People, Partnerships). There has been a clear recognition that we are not on track to reach the SDGs by 2030. Consequently, UN agencies are intensifying efforts to make best use of existing evaluative evidence to catalyze progress. The Evaluation Synthesis Working Group has been working collaboratively with members across a wide range of agencies to enhance the rigor and use of evaluation syntheses to this end.
The objective of this session is to share how "evaluation synthesis" is defined in the UN as a distinct part of the broader "evidence synthesis" world. The methodological approaches to evaluation synthesis by UN agencies will be presented, emphasizing the similarities to and differences from the systematic process commonly used for evidence synthesis products such as systematic reviews. Aspects of a draft guidance will be presented to facilitate learning from the broader synthesis community and, ultimately, to strengthen the guidance being given to UN colleagues to enhance the quality and availability of UN synthesis reports. Thus far, UN evaluations are a relatively untapped resource but can offer a wealth of evidence on process- and performance-related synthesis questions. This session aims to promote exchange between the evaluation and evidence synthesis communities to enhance linkages, strengthen the draft guidance, and engage with potential users.
The past 2 years have seen a step-change in evaluation synthesis, with more UN agencies undertaking syntheses, and an increasing recognition of the utility of this approach to making effective use of the large evaluative evidence base for identifying what works to accelerate progress toward the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This is demonstrated in the establishment and progress of the Global SDG Synthesis Coalition, a multistakeholder group focused on producing a series of syntheses under the 5 SDG pillars (Peace, Planet, Prosperity, People, Partnerships). There has been a clear recognition that we are not on track to reach the SDGs by 2030. Consequently, UN agencies are intensifying efforts to make best use of existing evaluative evidence to catalyze progress. The Evaluation Synthesis Working Group has been working collaboratively with members across a wide range of agencies to enhance the rigor and use of evaluation syntheses to this end.
The objective of this session is to share how "evaluation synthesis" is defined in the UN as a distinct part of the broader "evidence synthesis" world. The methodological approaches to evaluation synthesis by UN agencies will be presented, emphasizing the similarities to and differences from the systematic process commonly used for evidence synthesis products such as systematic reviews. Aspects of a draft guidance will be presented to facilitate learning from the broader synthesis community and, ultimately, to strengthen the guidance being given to UN colleagues to enhance the quality and availability of UN synthesis reports. Thus far, UN evaluations are a relatively untapped resource but can offer a wealth of evidence on process- and performance-related synthesis questions. This session aims to promote exchange between the evaluation and evidence synthesis communities to enhance linkages, strengthen the draft guidance, and engage with potential users.