The Oxford SDG Impact Lab partners with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its International Evaluation Office (IEO) to advance evidence-based policymaking in global development. The IEO plays a critical role in assessing the impact, effectiveness, and efficiency of UNDP’s initiatives, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Through the project "Innovation in Evaluation" Fellows will contribute to three key areas:

• Evaluating UNDP Projects – Conducting research on youth economic empowerment in Africa and conflict-related development initiatives, synthesising evaluation data to assess impact.
• Country Case Studies – Examining how UNDP supports national governments in strengthening electoral capacities, using process tracing to assess development outcomes.
• Insights & Innovation – Identifying opportunities to enhance evaluation methods, including the potential use of AI for data analysis.

This project supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Evaluating programmes that promote economic empowerment.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Assessing urban resilience and development initiatives.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – Strengthening governance, transparency, and electoral processes.

By applying rigorous research to development evaluation, this collaboration enhances UNDP’s ability to deliver effective and accountable global programmes.