The OECD/DAC Criteria for International Development Evaluations: An Assessment and Ideas for Improvement

Abstract

The five evaluation criteria from the Development Assistance Committee of the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD/DAC) have been a strong foundation for international development evaluation since 1991. They have been the most prominent and widely adopted criteria used for aid evaluation by most bilateral and multilateral donor agencies, as well as international non-governmental organizations (INGOs). However, critiques of the quality of development aid evaluation are still abundant. Thus, it is reasonable to question how those criteria can be improved. This paper provides a critical look at the five DAC criteria and proposes major recommendations for changes, including revisions of definitions, addition of key missing criteria, and discussions about the level of importance of the criteria. If followed, these changes could contribute for increasing the quality of evaluations for the purposes of (re)funding, program changes, and other decision options.