Summary Terms of Reference for System-wide evaluation on the United Nations development system’s approach to key transitions for SDG acceleration
- 30 January 2026
The UN Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) has committed to an operational shift towards a systems?oriented approach aimed at accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, in line with Member States’ calls for bold and transformative action at the 2023 SDG Summit.
In this context, the UNSDG System Wide Evaluation Office is undertaking an evaluation of how the UN development system is positioned to support key transitions in areas such as food systems, energy access, digital connectivity, education, jobs and social protection, and climate and environmental action. The evaluation is modular in design, with several standalone components that will be completed and published during 2026 and while also contributing to a final strategic report in Q1 2027.
The evaluation has a dual purpose of accountability and learning, with a strong emphasis on synthesizing existing evidence, identifying promising practices, and strengthening the foundations for more comprehensive assessments of UN support to key transitions through 2030. Its modules include standalone evaluations of specific initiatives, meta?evaluation, and evaluation synthesis that together will inform system?wide learning and recommendations.
The Summary Terms of Reference outlines the background, objectives, scope, evaluation questions, methodology, governance arrangements, and timeline.