System-Wide Evaluation Office

Kids hold signs of all UN SDGs above their heads and smiling.
UNDP Peru / Mónica Suárez Galindo

The first Annual Report of SWEO is published!

The 2024 Annual Report provides an update on the work and achievements of the office and highlights lessons learned from system-wide evaluation activities. It also sets out the programme of work for 2025 and details of Cooperation Framework Evaluations at country level. The report will be presented at the Operation Activities for Development Segment of ECOSOC, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 79/226.

The official publication is available in all 6 UN languages on the Economic and Social Council - Operational Activities Segment, May 2025. View the annual report in our document library

About What We Do

The United Nations Sustainable Development Group System-Wide Evaluation Office (SWEO) is responsible for the provision of independent evaluation evidence to strengthen learning, transparency, and accountability, to incentivize joint work and collective learning, and to conduct system-wide evaluations and advance evidence on the United Nations development system’s contribution towards achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.

To ensure independence, impartiality, and credibility, the UNSDG SWEO is a standalone independent office within the United Nations Secretariat. It provides leadership and strategic guidance for the system-wide evaluation function in accordance with the UNSDG System-Wide Evaluation policy. The Office is led by the Executive Director, reporting directly to the Secretary-General, but exercising operational independence in the performance of the evaluation function.

UN Volunteers from UN Togo Office Celebrating the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
UN DCO Togo

What is a System-Wide Evaluation?

  • A system-wide evaluation is an impartial assessment of the United Nations development system’s overall results and performance.
  • Its goal is to provide comprehensive support to address the challenges of the 2030 Agenda and achieve the SDGs.
  • These evaluations focus on collective results across the UN system, beyond what individual accountability measures can address.
  • Unlike joint evaluations, system-wide evaluations assess the performance of the entire system, not individual agencies.
  • The purpose is to promote accountability and learning, offering credible, evidence-based insights that inform timely decision-making across the UN development system.
A woman holding illuminated lamp in front of a girl.
UNHCR / S. Baldwin

Advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs

System-Wide Evaluations

Conduct system-wide evaluations and advance evidence on the UN development system's contribution towards achievement of the 2030 Agenda.

Independent Evaluation Evidence

Contribute independent evaluation evidence to strengthen learning, transparency and accountability to inform decision-making across the UN development system.

Collective Learning

Incentivize joint work and collective learning among UN development system entities to achieve the goals and targets set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

UNSDG System-Wide Evaluation Policy

Learn about the rationale, purpose, scope, and definitions for system-wide evaluation, as well as the guiding principles, evaluation procedures, and mechanisms for maximizing the use of evaluation evidence in the UNSDG System-Wide Evaluation Policy.

Latest Evaluation Evidence

Placing a Puzzle Piece into a Puzzle of the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
United Nations / Manuel Elias

Publications

Value for Money Assessment of the Spotlight Initiative

The Value for Money Assessment of the Spotlight Initiative responds to observations in the European Court of Auditors’ Special Report on the Spotlight Initiative. It assesses the economy, efficiency, effectiveness and equity of the Spotlight Initiative, to inform the evaluation.

  • Publications
  • Feature
Final Evaluation of the Spotlight Initiative

The evaluation assessed the Spotlight Initiative's overall performance, including its contribution to United Nations Development System reform. It informs the design of the next phase of the Spotlight Initiative. It presents findings under seven main areas of investigation including lessons learned.

  • Publications
  • Feature
UN System-Wide Evaluation Evidence Summary for the Resident Coordinator System

This summary draws on the extensive knowledge and evidence generated by independent evaluations on the Resident Coordinator system conducted across the United Nations development system between 2021 and 2024. It presents key issues and learning from evaluations for consideration in the context of United Nations system-wide and intergovernmental policy discussions.

  • Publications
  • Feature
UN System-Wide Evaluation Evidence Summary for the UN Development Systems Regional Architecture

This summary draws on the extensive knowledge and evidence generated by independent evaluations on UN development system reform at the regional level conducted across the United Nations development system between 2021 and 2024. It presents key issues and learning from evaluations for consideration in the context of United Nations system-wide and intergovernmental policy discussions.

  • Publications
  • Feature
UN System-Wide Evaluation Evidence Summary for the Building a Whole of System Response to Complex Settings

This summary draws on the extensive knowledge and evidence generated by independent evaluations on humanitarian, development and peace approaches conducted across the United Nations development system between 2021 and 2024. It presents key issues and learning from evaluations for consideration in the context of United Nations system-wide and intergovernmental policy discussions.

  • Publications
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UN System-Wide Evaluation Evidence Summary of Funding Quality

This summary draws on the extensive knowledge and evidence generated by independent evaluations on funding quality conducted across the United Nations development system between 2021 and 2024. It presents key issues and learning from evaluations for consideration in the context of United Nations system-wide and intergovernmental policy discussions.

  • Publications
  • Feature