Evaluations are carried out to fulfill specific goals or to respond to specific needs. Program Initiatives are required to have performance frameworks and evaluation plans, and to include evaluation results in their progress reporting.
Evaluation is intended to improve program planning and delivery.
It contributes to decision-making and strategy formulation at all levels in the Centre. To aim evaluations at providing useful findings, projects and programs are assessed strategically, based on the client's purpose and information needs. Evaluations are designed to lead to action. To be useful, evaluations need to produce relevant, action-oriented findings and this is fostered by sustained involvement and ownership by the client and stakeholders throughout the process. No single, best, generic evaluation methodology exists.