Publications

Development cooperation is one of the few policy fields where evaluation is deeply institutionalised as an important component in the policy cycle. Independence, utility and credibility are overarching principles that guide both evaluation criteria as well as processes. Still, a challenge exists in how to adequately strengthen the role of partner countries in the evaluation of development cooperation. This policy brief suggests a framework for analysis, consisting of four interdependent dimensions which should be carefully considered: a partner dimension, a process dimension, an intensity dimension and a capacity dimension. Using such a framework allows to develop tailor-made reforms for diferent types of evaluations as well as organisations instead of proclaiming one overarching normative blueprint.

• Faust, J. (2024), Strengthening the Role of Partner Countries in Evaluating Development Cooperation: A Framework for Analysis, DEval Policy Brief 2/2024, German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), Bonn.

The right to sexual and reproductive well-being is a human right, yet challenges to achieving sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) persist, especially in low- and middle-income countries (L&MICs). SRHR policies and programs can empower individuals, address harmful gender norms and promote universal access to services. However, the evidence base on the effects of programs in L&MICs is fragmented by topic or population. A comprehensive mapping of the evidence is a critical step towards consolidating knowledge of programs that aim to strengthen SRHR in L&MICs. The German Institute for Development Evaluation, with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and additional funding from Co-Impact, commissioned the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) to produce an evidence gap map (EGM) for SRHR in L&MICs. The map visually organizes SRHR studies to highlight evidence gaps and inform future research.

• Khan L., T. Kozakiewicz, M. Bhattacharyya, T. Azim, M. Schmidt, T. Polak, B. Snilstveit, S. Shisler (2024). Sexual and reproductive health and rights in low- and middle-income countries: An evidence gap map, 3ie Evidence Gap Map Report 31. New Delhi: International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie).

The interim report of the 2030 Agenda in summer 2023 shows that the 17 Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved by 2030 with the progress that is currently observed. In addition, the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the numerous wars and conflicts as well as economic challenges are likely to further set back the achievement of the goals. In the year marking the half-way point of the 2030 Agenda, the United Nations (UN) is therefore calling on all countries to intensify their efforts. At the same time, all citizens continue to be called on to make their own contributions to sustainable global development. Against this backdrop, it is important to continuously monitor public perception of the 2030 Agenda. The German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval) has therefore analysed how awareness of the SDGs has changed since 2015 and how the attitude of the German population towards the 2030 Agenda has changed compared to 2017.

• Schneider, S. H., A. Gödderz, H. Zille and M. Bruder (2024), Public Opinion of the 2030 Agenda: A Mid-Term Review, DEval Policy Brief 1/2024, German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), Bonn.

Der Zwischenstand der Agenda 2030 im Sommer 2023 zeigt, dass die 17 Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung bei dem aktuell zu beobachtenden Fortschritt bis 2030 nicht erreicht werden können. Hinzu kommt, dass die Nachwirkungen der Covid-19-Pandemie, die zahlreichen Kriege und Konfikte sowie wirtschaftliche Herausforderungen die Zielerreichung weiter zurückwerfen dürften. Die Vereinten Nationen (UN) riefen daher im Jahr der Halbzeit der Agenda 2030 alle Staaten auf, ihre Anstrengungen zu intensivieren. Dabei sind auch alle Bürger*innen nach wie vor gefragt, eigene Beiträge zu einer nachhaltigen globalen Entwicklung zu leisten. Vor diesem Hintergrund ist es wichtig, die öfentliche Wahrnehmung der Agenda 2030 kontinuierlich zu beobachten. Das Deutsche Evaluierungsinstitut der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (DEval) hat daher untersucht, wie sich die Bekanntheit der SDGs seit 2015 und die Einstellung der Bevölkerung Deutschlands zur Agenda 2030 im Vergleich zu 2017 verändert haben.

• Schneider, S. H., A. Gödderz, H. Zille und M. Bruder (2024), Die Agenda 2030 in der öffentlichen Meinung: Eine Halbzeitbilanz, DEval Policy Brief 1/2024, Deutsches Evaluierungsinstitut der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (DEval), Bonn.

Global supply chains – especially in the textile sector – face many social and environmental challenges to sustainability. The public has become increasingly aware of these challenges in the wake of disasters such as the fire in the Ali Enterprises textile factory in Pakistan in 2012 and the collapse of the Rana Plaza textile factory in Bangladesh in 2013. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has stated its intention to promote fair and sustainable global textile supply chains. For this reason, the German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval) examined the interaction between the instruments and measures deployed in German development cooperation (DC) to promote sustainable global supply chains in the textile sector. This policy brief presents key findings and recommendations of the evaluation.

• Heucher, A., A. zu Eulenburg, J. Ihl and M. Kiefer (2023), The Promotion of Sustainable Supply Chains Based on the Example of the Textile Sector: The Mix of Instruments in German Development Cooperation, DEval Policy Brief 10/2023, German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), Bonn.

Die Anwendung von Qualitätsstandards ist von großer Bedeutung für Evaluierungen in der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (EZ), damit sie ihren drei Funktionen gerecht werden können: praxisrelevante Erkenntnisse zu generieren, Lernen zu fördern und die Rechenschaftslegung zu stärken. Die Leitlinien des Bundesministeriums für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) zu Evaluierungen betrachten dabei die Qualitätsstandards des Entwicklungsausschusses der Organisation für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (OECD­DAC) und der Gesellschaft für Evaluation (DeGEval) als wesentlich für die Güte von Evaluierungen in der deutschen Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (BMZ, 2021).

• Wittenberg, M., K. Guffler und A. zu Eulenburg (2023), Ausgewählte Erkenntnisse zu methodischen Qualitätsstandards in Projektevaluierungen: Anwendungsbeispiele aus der Evaluierungspraxis von elf Organisationen der deutschen Entwicklungszusammenarbeit, DEval Policy Brief 11/2023, Deutsches Evaluierungsinstitut der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (DEval), Bonn.