The OECD DAC evaluation standards provide a normative framework with six criteria and two principles to assess the merit of interventions in various sectors. The criteria—relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability—evaluate the intervention's contextual fit, objective achievement, resource utilization, effects, and longevity of benefits. The application of these criteria should be tailored to the evaluation's purpose and stakeholder needs to ensure high-quality outcomes.

1. 1
OECD DAC Evaluation Standards
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Maksud Hasan, MEAL Enthusiastic

2. WHAT IS OECD DAC EVALUATION STANDARDS
The OECD DAC Network on
Development Evaluation (EvalNet) has
defined six evaluation criteria and two
principles for their use
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3. WHAT IS OECD DAC EVALUATION STANDARDS
These criteria provide a normative
framework used to determine the merit
of an intervention (policy, strategy,
program, project or activity).
They serve as the basis upon which
evaluative judgements are made.
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4. SIX STANDARDS
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RCEEIS

5. RELEVANCE
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IS THE INTERVENTION DOING THE
RIGHT THINGS?
They should be contextualized – understood in the context
of the individual evaluation, the intervention being
evaluated, and the stakeholders involved. The evaluation
questions (what you are trying to find out) and what you
intend to do with the answers, should inform how the
criteria are specifically interpreted and analyzed.

6. COHERENCE
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HOW WELL DOES THE
INTERVENTION FIT?
The compatibility of the intervention with other
interventions in a country, sector or institution.

7. EFFECTIVENESS
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IS THE INTERVENTION ACHIEVING
ITS OBJECTIVES?
The extent to which the intervention achieved, or is expected
to achieve, its objectives, and its results, including any
differential results across groups.

8. EFFICIENCY
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HOW WELL ARE RESOURCES BEING
USED?
The extent to which the intervention delivers, or is likely to
deliver, results in an economic and timely way.

9. IMPACT
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WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THE
INTERVENTION MAKE?
The extent to which the intervention has generated or is
expected to generate significant positive or negative,
intended or unintended, higher-level effects.

10. SUSTAINABILITY
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WILL THE BENEFITS LAST?
The extent to which the net benefits of the intervention
continue or are likely to continue.

11. TWO PRINCIPLES
Principle One: The criteria should be
applied thoughtfully to support high
quality, useful evaluation.
They should be contextualized – understood in the context of the
individual evaluation, the intervention being evaluated, and the
stakeholders involved. The evaluation questions (what you are
trying to find out) and what you intend to do with the answers,
should inform how the criteria are specifically interpreted and
analyzed.
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12. TWO PRINCIPLES
Principle Two: The use of the criteria
depends on the purpose of the
evaluation. The criteria should not be
applied mechanistically.
Instead, they should be covered according to the needs of the
relevant stakeholders and the context of the evaluation. More or
less time and resources may be devoted to the evaluative
analysis for each criterion depending on the evaluation purpose.
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13. INFORMATION SOURCES
www.oecd.org
www.annmurraybrown.com
www.dx.doi.org
www.3ieimpact.org
www.collaboracion.dnp.gov.com
www.fao.org
www.publications.iadb.org
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14. Maksud Hasan
MEAL Enthusiastic
WhatsApp: +880 1755 577 775
Email: maksudsoc@gmail.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/maksudsoc