Learning from Evaluation at the Un Office on Drugs and Crime: a Case Study Analysis of the Evaluation Process

>>This study is a wake-up call to UNODC and possibly for the UN system as a whole. It proves that while learning from evaluation is taking root at UNODC, the organization still has a lot to do in order to promote learning, improvements and accountability and recommends valuable steps in that direction.<< Backson Sibanda (PhD), Chief, Independent Evaluation Unit, UNODC >>Evaluation has become routine and ever more sophisticated at all levels of government, including international organizations. The challenge remains, however, to use evaluation to its full potential by feeding results back into the policy process and management of projects. This study shows how much organizations can benefit from a rigorous application of policy analysis to their day-to-day work. Combining the insight of practitioners with a theory-based analysis of UNODC's evaluation process, Bidjan Nashat reveals the bottlenecks on UNODC's path towards becoming a learning organization. He proposes changes at the organizational and structural level designed to nurture an evaluation and learning culture.<< Sonja Wälti, School of Public Affairs, American University, Washington D. C.