The First Professional Peer Review provided an external check on whether the Evaluation Office could uphold independence and credibility in a a period marked by reform pressures and leadership change.

Completed in 2009, it assesses the Evaluation Office during 2005–2009 using document analysis, interviews, and a sample of six evaluations, the review examines independence, credibility, and utility.

Findings show that financial independence is secured, with the budget increasing by 52 percent to $3.9 million in 2009, and that evaluation products demonstrate methodological rigor and clarity.

Yet further progress is needed to make the evaluation cycle more open and participatory by broadening consultation, ensuring more consistent fieldwork, and allowing adequate time for management responses. Independence is strengthened by direct reporting to Council, but its legal foundation rests only on letters of agreement that could be revoked, underscoring the need for formal Council-approved rules and regulations. Evaluations are valued by Council and Agencies, but limited country-level engagement reduces their utility.

The report recommends formalizing the Office’s independence, improving stakeholder engagement, and strengthening quality assurance and dissemination to enhance decision-making and learning.