This Glossary contains 143 monitoring and evaluation terms with definitions that are used throughout the United Nations Secretariat in the context of monitoring and evaluation and results-based management. Its purpose is to encourage uniformity and harmonization of terms used in evaluative practices of departments and offices, funds and programmes.
The Glossary was prepared in the framework of the Secretariat’s Working Group on Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation. The need for a more consistent usage of monitoring and evaluation terms in the Secretariat was identified as a necessary step in enhancing monitoring and evaluation practice.
The Glossary benefits from a number of glossaries used both within and outside the United Nations system. Many terms used in the industry were selected, reviewed and edited to make them relevant to established policies and practices of the UN Secretariat. This Glossary is by no means exhaustive. It is provided to UN staff as a working tool to encourage uniformity of terminology and common approaches. It is envisaged that, as evaluation practices evolve, so will the Glossary - by expansion and amendments, as and when necessary. We see this as a work in progress and would welcome comments and suggestions on how we may enhance the usefulness of the Glossary. We plan to re-issue updates, periodically.
The Glossary terms are organized in alphabetical order. The Contents page organizes these terms both alphabetically and by eight major categories of use. In addition, each term is accompanied, whenever appropriate, by a cross-reference to related terms. For your convenience the Glossary is equipped with hyperlinks between related terms.