Professional Standards

We follow professional evaluation standards in the conduct of our work. Several such standards have been published and have been in use for many years. They are updated from time to time to reflect development of the evaluation and accountability professions.

The Center always uses the standards of the American Evaluation Association.

However, for evaluations and accountability studies related to government programs, we also use those of the Government Accountability Office and the President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency (used by U.S. Government Inspector General). They contain more specific provisions that are appropriate for such studies.

For international work, we consult a number of other stndards, such as those issued by the United Nations, Canada, Great Brittan, and the European Union.  

Typical Topics Covered

Competency
Independence
Professional Judgment
Quality Control
Planning
Data Collections and Analysis
Evidence
Records Maintenance
Reporting
Follow-up
Working Relationships
Respect for People

Conflicts of Interest

Reporting and Communications
Transparency

We encourage all who are interested in evaluation, accountability, and international studies to thoroughly familiarize themselves with all of these documents. 

American Evaluation Association Guiding Principles for Evaluators

http://www.eval.org/Publications/GuidingPrinciples.asp

Systematic Inquiry

Competence

Integrity/Honesty

Respect for People

Responsibilities for General and Public Welfare

Government Accountability Office (GAO) Auditing Standards

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07731g.pdf

Note: The Center uses those portions of these standards that apply to performance audits (evaluations) and agreed upon engagements. The Center does not conduct financial audits. Should our clients need financial audits to be done in connection with our work we will assist them in obtaining the services of a qualified audit entity.
Chapter 3.General Standards

Independence

Professional Judgment

Competence

Quality Control and Assurance

Chapter 7. Field Work Standards for Performance Audits

Reasonable Assurance

Performance Audit

Audit Risk

Planning

Supervision

Obtain sufficient and appropriate evidence

Chapter 8. Reporting Standards for Performance Audits

Reporting

Report contents

Distributing Reports

PCIE Standards (Inspectors General Quality Standards for Inspections and Evaluations)

http://www.ignet.gov/pande/standards/oeistds.pdf

Competency

Independence

Professional Judgment

Quality Control

Planning

Data Collection and Analysis

Evidence

Records Maintenance

Timeliness

Fraud, Other Illegal Acts, and Abuse

Reporting

Follow-up

Performance Measurement

Working Relationships and Communication

United Nations Standards, Core Competencies, and Norms

1. Standards 

http://www.uneval.org/papersandpubs/documentdetail.jsp?doc_id=22

Institutional Framework and Management of the Evaluation Function

Competencies and Ethics

Conducting Evaluations

Evaluation Reports

2. Core Competencies

http://www.unevaluation.org/evaluatorscorecompetencies

Included in the Standards for Evaluation in the UN System

3. Norms                                            

http://www.escwa.un.org/divisions/pptcd/upload/uneg.pdf

Definition

Responsibility for Evaluation

Policy

Intentionality

Impartiality

Independence

Evaluability

Quality of Evaluation

Competencies for Evaluation

Transparency and Consultation

Evaluation Ethics

Follow-up to Evaluation

Contribution to Knowledge Building

DAC Evaluation Quality Standards

http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/51/7/38686953.pdf

Rationale purpose and objectives of evaluation

Scope of Evaluation

Context of Evaluation

Evaluating Methodology

Information Sources

Independence

Ethics

Quality Assurance

Relevance of Results

Completeness

European Union Evaluation Standards and Good Practice

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/secretariat_general/evaluation/docs/standards_c_2002_5267_final_en.pdf

Resources and Organization of Evaluation Activities

Planning Evaluation Activities

Designing  Evaluations

Conducting Evaluations

Dissemination and Utilization of Evaluation Results

United Kingdom Evaluation Society Good Practice Guidelines

http://www.evaluation.org.uk/resources/guidelines.aspx

Evaluators need to:

Be explicit about the purpose, methods, intended outputs and outcomes of the evaluation

Alert commissioners to possible adjustments to the evaluation

Consider building into the contract forms of external support

Have preliminary discussions with commissioners prior to agreeing to a contract

Consult with commissioners if necessary

Demonstrate the quality of the evaluation to other parties

Minimize potential harmful effects of the evaluation

Evaluators also need to:

Demonstrate that the evaluation design fits the purpose

Demonstrate the appropriate use of evidence

Work within the Data Protection Act to ensure data storage security

Acknowledge intellectual property and the work of others

Have contractual agreement over copyright of the evaluation

Write findings in accessible language

Agree with commissioners about the nature of dissemination

Competencies for Canadian Evaluation Practice

http://www.evaluationcanada.ca/txt/2_competencies_cdn_evaluation_practice.pdf

Reflective Practice Competencies

Technical Practice Competencies

Situational Practice Competencies

Management Practice Competencies

Interpersonal Practice Competencies

Australasian Guidelines for the Ethical Conduct of Evaluation

http://www.aes.asn.au/about/Documents%20%20ongoinging/guidelines

This document is complemented by guides and standards developed by other professional groups involved in evaluation around the world.  These include The Program Evaluation Standards (2^nd Edition, Sage 1994); the American Evaluation Association’s Guiding Principles for Evaluators (1994); and the Canadian Evaluation Society’s Guidelines for Ethical Conduct.

Commissioning and Preparing For an Evaluation

Conducting an Evaluation

Reporting the Results of an Evaluation

Swiss Evaluation Society Evaluation Standards

http://www.seval.ch/en/documents/SEVAL_Standards_2000_en.pdf

Decision to Conduct and Evaluation

Defining the Evaluation

Planning the Evaluation

Collecting the Information

Analyzing the Information