Papers

Evaluation of UNICEF's 'Good Nutrition for a Healthy Life' project

Final Evaluation Report of UNICEF Brazil’s Good Nutrition for a Healthy Life project, which focused on promoting healthy school environments, building the capacity of health, education and social protection professionals, and disseminating information about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for children up to 6 months old and continued until 2 years old, as well as healthy nutrition for children and adolescents.

Summative Review of the UNICEF/WFP Social Protection response to COVID-19 in Mozambique

As part of this national response strategy, UNICEF and the World Food Program (WFP) supported approximately 90,000 households by implementing cash transfers in selected areas in Tete and Zambézia provinces. The cash transfers were complemented with a Communication for Social and Behavioral Change (CSBC) intervention and referrals to appropriate services to treat and follow up on cases of exploitation and gender-based violence.

Retrospective evaluation of the pilot program “Toilet Marketing in the Comoros” (2020-2022)

The Toilet Marketing pilot project, implemented from 2020 to 2022 with UNICEF support, aimed to address a significant lack of sanitation infrastructure in the country by facilitating and encouraging access to improved toilets. Report in French.

Summative Evaluation of GPE Support to Zimbabwe

 The 2017 – 2020 Global Partnership for Education (GPE) support to Zimbabwe sought to enhance equitable access to quality education to all children in the country. The programme supported five components: (i) providing strong policy, legal and regulatory framework; (ii) implementing the new curriculum; (iii) equity and access in education; (iv) institutional strengthening and (v) programme support, management and monitoring.   

Evaluation of the Digital Bridges for Educational Equity Programme

The Digital Bridges programme, funded by the UNICEF Innovation Office, aims to expand digital education in Uruguay in an equitable manner, increasing the recruitment and use of platforms and other digital resources to promote inclusive and quality education for all. Report in Spanish.

Evaluation Brief: Final evaluation of the EU Global Promotion of Best Practices for Children in Migration programme - Spanish version

This evaluation brief presents the final evaluation of the EU Global Promotion of Best Practices for Children in Migration programme, which ran from 2020 to 2023. The programme, known as Children on the Move (CotM), operated in four countries across two regions with the partnership of UNICEF and UNHCR. The evaluation team developed a theory of change to analyse the programme's outcomes, assessing its relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. Data collection involved various methods such as document review, interviews, discussions, and surveys, conducted between May and October 2023.

Evaluation Brief: Final evaluation of the EU Global Promotion of Best Practices for Children in Migration programme

This evaluation brief presents the final evaluation of the EU Global Promotion of Best Practices for Children in Migration programme, which ran from 2020 to 2023. The programme, known as Children on the Move (CotM), operated in four countries across two regions with the partnership of UNICEF and UNHCR. The evaluation team developed a theory of change to analyse the programme's outcomes, assessing its relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. Data collection involved various methods such as document review, interviews, discussions, and surveys, conducted between May and October 2023.

Final evaluation of the EU Global Promotion of Best Practices for Children in Migration programme - Spanish Version

This report presents the final evaluation of the EU Global Promotion of Best Practices for Children in Migration programme, which ran from 2020 to 2023. The programme, known as Children on the Move (CotM), operated in four countries across two regions with the partnership of UNICEF and UNHCR. The evaluation team developed a theory of change to analyse the programme's outcomes, assessing its relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. Data collection involved various methods such as document review, interviews, discussions, and surveys, conducted between May and October 2023.

Zambia Country Brief - Final evaluation of the EU Global Promotion of Best Practices for Children in Migration programme

This country brief discusses the key findings of the evaluation of the EU’s Global Promotion of Best Practices for Children in Migration (also known as Children on the Move or CotM). This document summarises the main messages from the evaluation and draws lessons and conclusions from these experiences for similar interventions in other regions.

South Africa Country Brief - Final evaluation of the EU Global Promotion of Best Practices for Children in Migration programme

This country brief discusses the key findings of the evaluation of the EU’s Global Promotion of Best Practices for Children in Migration (also known as Children on the Move or CotM). This document summarises the main messages from the evaluation and draws lessons and conclusions from these experiences for similar interventions in other regions.

Mexico Country Brief - Final evaluation of the EU Global Promotion of Best Practices for Children in Migration programme

This country brief discusses the key findings of the evaluation of the EU’s Global Promotion of Best Practices for Children in Migration (also known as Children on the Move or CotM). This document summarises the main messages from the evaluation and draws lessons and conclusions from these experiences for similar interventions in other regions.

El Salvador Country Brief - Final evaluation of the EU Global Promotion of Best Practices for Children in Migration programme

This country brief discusses the key findings of the evaluation of the EU’s Global Promotion of Best Practices for Children in Migration (also known as Children on the Move or CotM). This document summarises the main messages from the evaluation and draws lessons and conclusions from these experiences for similar interventions in other regions.

Final evaluation of the EU Global Promotion of Best Practices for Children in Migration programme

This report presents the final evaluation of the EU Global Promotion of Best Practices for Children in Migration programme, which ran from 2020 to 2023. The programme, known as Children on the Move (CotM), operated in four countries across two regions with the partnership of UNICEF and UNHCR. The evaluation team developed a theory of change to analyse the programme's outcomes, assessing its relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. Data collection involved various methods such as document review, interviews, discussions, and surveys, conducted between May and October 2023.

Evaluation of the Resettlement Process and Community Participation - PROSAMIM III

In this evaluation we carried out: (i) a longitudinal study with resettled families, comparing the situation before and after the move; (ii) an impact assessment with a treatment group and a control group; (iii) the evaluation of the satisfaction degree of resettled people; in addition to (iv) document analysis, focus groups and interviews with managers and technicians.

Safer Access to Essential Public Services - A summary of the evaluation of results of the AMS methodology

This evaluation aimed to assess the relevance, coherence, effectiveness, impact and sustainability of the AMS programme, particularly in the long term. To that end, mixed data collection methods were used, such as focus groups, interviews, questionnaires, among others, involving more than 500 people.

Evaluation of the Program for the Protection of Children and Adolescents Threatened with Death –

This evaluation aimed to contribute to the enhancement of the Programme on both national and state levels. To this end, robust monitoring and evaluation methodologies were developed to assess the effectiveness of the Programme's management processes and the quality of the products it delivers

Research on the impact of community engagement and accountability approaches in public health emergencies: Malawi

This case study was conducted as part of research commissioned by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on the impact of community engagement and accountability in public health emergencies. The overall objective of the research is to identify, understand and document how community engagement and accountability approaches have changed, impacted and/or influenced National Societies’ programmes and community-health systems during public health emergencies. 

Research on the impact of community engagement and accountability approaches in public health emergencies: Guatemala

This case study was conducted as part of research commissioned by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on the impact of community engagement and accountability in public health emergencies. The overall objective of the research is to identify, understand and document how community engagement and accountability approaches have changed, impacted and/or influenced National Societies’ programmes and community-health systems during public health emergencies. 

Research on the impact of community engagement and accountability approaches in public health emergencies: Guinea

This case study was conducted as part of research commissioned by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on the impact of community engagement and accountability in public health emergencies. The overall objective of the research is to identify, understand and document how community engagement and accountability approaches have changed, impacted and/or influenced National Societies’ programmes and community-health systems during public health emergencies. 

Research on the impact of community engagement and accountability approaches in public health emergencies: Indonesia

This case study was conducted as part of research commissioned by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on the impact of community engagement and accountability in public health emergencies. The overall objective of the research is to identify, understand and document how community engagement and accountability approaches have changed, impacted and/or influenced National Societies’ programmes and community-health systems during public health emergencies. 

Street Lighting Impacts in Brazil

This study aims to provide a baseline to support those lighting interventions and contribute to an evaluation exercise at the end of the investment cycle. The analysis explores the potential impacts on people’s behaviour and perceptions of safety and security, especially among women. It also addresses education and job opportunities. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative and quantitative tools. 

Evaluation of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for 2017-2021

The main objective of the evaluation was to assess how the Development Cooperation Framework is contributing to the development of Brazil, based on national priorities established by the Brazilian government, in the period 2017-2021. The evaluation focused on both the development results achieved and the challenges overcome, the identification of internal gaps and overlaps, and the best practices that can be drawn from the implementation of joint actions.

Summative Evaluation of UNICEF 2015-2019 Education Programme in Angola

This evaluation examines, on one side, the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of UNICEF Angola interventions in the context of the development of the education sector and, on the other, the coherence, coverage and coordination of interventions in the emergency context.

Evaluation of the project aimed at improving the feeding practices of newborns and children in Madagascar

The evaluation consists of a contribution analysis for the first phase of the project and a prospective assessment for the second phase, identifying lessons learned, conclusions and recommendations to improve the implementation of the project.

Evaluation of the UNICEF Brazil Country Programme

The evaluation of UNICEF Brazil Country Programme (2017-2022) and UNICEF Brazil's COVID-19 response used theory-based approach with mixed methods and a non-experimental evaluation design.

Evaluation of Tunisia's child-centered conditional cash transfer programme

This evaluation documents the importance of implementing more integrated, multi-sectoral child-sensitive social protection strategies to ensure a fair chance for all Tunisian children, and the crucial role of social protection in protecting human capital in the country.

Baseline study on CRAN catch-up education in Madagascar - Teaching at the Right Level

Prospective evaluation of the baseline situation of the CRAN programme based on the six DAC-OECD criteria: relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability (in French).

Eating habits during early childhood among cash-transfer beneficiaries

The study 'Food in Early Childhood: knowledge, attitudes and practices of Bolsa Família beneficiaries', carried out by UNICEF, analysed the eating habits of families with children under 6 years of age supported by Bolsa Família, now replaced by Auxílio Brasil. 


Logframe and theory of change of a youth empowerment programme

Collaborative process for the development of the logical framework of the CUCA Network's projects and activities. Includes review of the theory of change, indicator matrix, monitoring and evaluation tools and methodological guide.

Evaluation of the sustainability of community-based water management systems

The Água+Acesso Alliance works towards improving access to safe water for rural communities throughout Brazil in a sustainable fashion. This document guides the Alliance's participatory evaluation, with the involvement of 16 partner organisations.

Evaluation of the Happy Childhood Programme - Qualitative approach

The Happy Child Program (PCF) is a nationwide programme that supports stimulation during very early childhood. This formative assessment based on interviews with stakeholders contributes evidence for a management response for its upcoming stages.

Evaluation of the MEND and RISE conditional cash transfer programmes

Final evaluation of two social protection and cash transfer programmes sponsored by UNICEF in StKitts and Nevis. This report received a "highly satisfactory" rating from UNICEF's GEROS.

MEND and RISE Evaluation Executive Summary

Executive summary of the final evaluation of the conditional cash transfer programmes in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Evaluation of the Youth Aware Program

Youth Aware is an innovative STD prevention programme sponsored by UNICEF that focuses on bringing testing facilities closer to youth and improving prevention through peer-to-peer education. This final evaluaion features lessons learned and recommendations for programme scale-up. Originally published in UNICEF's evaluation database.

Zika outbreak in Brazil: understanding perceptions to increase the effectiveness of preventive action

This paper reports the findings of a research conducted in 2016 to identify optimal social communication strategies for increasing awareness around Zika virus. To understand how communication strategies could better impact the behaviour of the population, this research combined four health behavioural models to explain the main factors involved in taking preventive measures both individually and collectively. 

Quasi-experimental Impact Assessment: Evaluating Urban Centers of Culture, Art, Science and Sports in Brazil

In this article we examine the effects that attending the CUCA network has had on the lives of young people living in Fortaleza (Brazil). Through a quasi-experiment we carried out an impact assessment to verify the hypothesis that attending CUCA units positively affects young people's lives in the following aspects: family life; social-emotional skills; performance in studies; awareness of citizenship rights; preparation for the labor market; mitigation of illicit drug use; and awareness about how to avoid unwanted pregnancies and / or STDs. In addition, we examine the possibility that the presence of the CUCA provokes an increase in the sense of security in the neighborhood where it is situated. To measure the above mentioned impacts, we use difference-in-difference regression models, in addition to Logit and Probit models. This paper is part of an evaluation work carried out at the request of the Inter-American Development Bank.

Avaliação dos Centros de Educação Infantil PROARES 2

Mixed-methods evaluation of IDB-supported day-care centers in Northeastern Brazil using ECERS scales, drawings and a quasi-experimental impact measurement model.

Plano Municipal dos Direitos de Crianças e Adolescentes de Rio Negrinho (SC)

Policy document on Children and Youth organized by a municipality in Southern Brazil based on a prospective evaluation written by Plan Eval

Diagnóstico da Infância e da Adolescência de Jundiaí (SP)

This diagnostic research informs children & youth policy in a city of 350,000 inhabitants

Rede CUCA: impactos sociais e econômicos

Final evaluation of the network of Urban Centers for Culture, Art, Science and Sports, an IDB-supported youth programme in Northeastern Brazil.

Introdução ao Índice de Pobreza Multidimensional Paulista

A primer on the Multidimensional Poverty Index developed by Plan for the São Paulo State Government.

Diagnóstico da Situação da Criança e do Adolescente em Lençóis Paulista

A situational analysis of children and youth in a municipality in Southeastern Brazil.

Gestão do Impacto Social dos Negócios

Plan produced this publication for CEBDS, the Brazilian chapter of the WBCSD - World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The book deals with different methods for appraising the social impact of business with cases extracted from 4 economic sectors. Contents include contributions made by member companies.

Final Evaluation of the Cotton-4 Development Cooperation Project

Evaluation of Brazilian technical cooperation to strengthen cotton industries in four African countries (in English).

Avaliação do Programa de Cooperação Internacional Cotton-4

Evaluation of Brazilian technical cooperation to strengthen cotton industries in four African countries (in Portuguese).

Subsídios para o entendimento da pobreza multidimensional e sua medição

Theoretical and methodological discussion that provided the background for the Multidimensional Poverty Index created for a subnational government in Brazil.

Orçamento por Resultados em São Paulo

This publication describes challenges in the implementation of Budgeting for Results, as well as the initative's origins, methodology, and potential to enhance program management.

Avaliação do Programa Terra Mais Igual

Evaluation of the Terra Mais Igual Program (2005-2012), which aimed to "improve quality of life for socially-excluded communities, and empower them through equal access to public goods and services."

Determinantes do atraso de pagamentos num conjunto habitacional popular

Analysis of factors that explain arrearage in payments in a public housing project in São Paulo.

Gestão por resultados em regularização fundiária urbana

This paper summarizes the Secretary of Public Housing's (SEHAB-SP) implementation of results-based management between 2007 and 2009 with support from Plan.

Monitoramento de resultados e avaliação de causalidade

This article explores the techniques used to build a budget matrix for the São Paulo State Penitentiary Atuhority.

Diagnostico do trabalho infantil em Nova Friburgo

This study of child labor in Nova Friburgo (RJ) involved semi-structured interviews with key local actors and secondary data analysis.

Inferência de causalidade por análise qualitativa

This article explores causal inference methods developed to validate results chains and systematize monitoring and evaluation actions. Cases are drawn from a subnational government's intiative to implement results-based budgeting.

Simplificando a medição de conceitos complexos no desenvolvimento infantil

This article explains how a complex concept such as "comprehensive childhood development" was simplified to make it measurable.

A implementação do acesso à informação pública: o que pensam os servidores

This article is based on in-depth interviews with 15 public officials in order to understand their views on how to implement access to information legislation.

Quadros lógicos: sugestões de leitura

A primer on Logical Frameworks

Programas privados e desenvolvimento comunitário

This article analyzes the relationship between the government and community development programs implemented by the private sector, and offers recommendations on how to improve this relationship.

Evaluating Readiness to Implement Open Government: The Brazilian Case in Comparative Perspective

This paper explores Brazil's ongoing experience with regulating the constitutional right to access government documents, and developing a means of universalizing access. It also describes the results of an assessment of government institutions' "readiness" to grant public access, discusses the main findings, and compares this experience to those of other countries.

The Complex Task of Advocacy Evaluation: Lessons from Brazil

Much is written about the obtuse application of evaluation tools without appropriate theoretical understanding, but analysis of situations wherein theories remain unapplied for the lack of appropriate tools is rare. The paper introduces the tools brought to bear during two advocacy evaluations, analyzing their practicality, including how they push back on the theoretical demands of advocacy evaluation.

IFPRI Evaluation of Mexico's PROGRESA: Norm, Mistake, or Exemplar?

Early in the implementation of the flagship anti-poverty program PROGRESA, Mexican officials hired evaluators from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). This article uses a science studies approach to examine the resulting evaluation's methodology, and uncovers a number of significant omissions and ambiguities.

Tools for the Complex Task of Evaluating International Advocacy

This work discusses the use of Personal Brain and Sankey Diagrams to visualize and organize complex qualitative data. Plan used these resources to evaluate the advocacy work of a Brazilian NGO within the United Nations.

Os Objetivos do Milênio e a habitação popular

This article discusses the challenge of adapting urban development targets and indicators to local realities, based on Plan's experience of implementing a monitoring and evaluation system in São Paulo.

Nossa São Paulo: controle social do governo pelo monitoramento de políticas

A presentation of the Nossa São Paulo monitoring system, designed to increase mayors' accountability in the city.

Negotiated Validity: Three Perspectives on IFPRI Sampling Methods

The evaluation of Progresa, a Mexican social program developed by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) between 1997 and 2000, is famous for its (alleged) use of experimental methodology. This article employs complexity theory to analyze the validity of the sample used in this particular evaluation.