Annual evaluation report: 2006

1. This report is a synthesis of all evaluation conducted by the Evaluation and Oversight Unit in 2006. It analyses information provided in one subprogram evaluation, 13 in-depth evaluations, one special study and 127 self-evaluation reports. The report also contains, in a separate chapter with its accompanying annexes, an analysis of the status of implementation of evaluation recommendations including recommendations in annual evaluation reports from 20002006. A separate chapter presents the findings of an evaluation demand study conductor by the Evaluation and Oversight Unit in 2006. 2. The in-depth evaluation of the Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA) covered the subprogram's programme of work in the biennia covering 2000-2001, 2002-2003 and 2004-2005. The overall objective of the evaluation was to examine the implementation of the work programme of the division and to determine the extent to which it has accomplishes it goals over the period of programme implementation covered by the evaluation. The evaluation examined mechanisms for collaboration both internally and externally, assessed the effects of the 1999 functional restructuring of the organization on programme implementation and identified strengths and weaknesses in programme implementation. 3. The evaluation showed that DEWA has been successful in delivering its work programmes over the period covered by the evaluation. It successfully produced a number of key assessments including the third multi-partnership Global Environment Outlook (GEO) and associated products, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, Global International Waters Assessment, marine mammals and coral reefs assessments, freshwater resource assessments of urban environments as well as providing guidance on regional, subregional and national environmental assessments, and land degradation assessments. The division has also supported the publication of the World Resources Reports and prepared the popular Atlas of our Changing Environment: One Planet, Many People. With other agencies, DEWA has initiated the International Assessment on Agricultural Science and Technology for Development, the Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment and the World Water Development Report. 4. The evaluation found that DEWA assessments are being used by the environmental policy development and decision-making community, the academic community and environmental information depositories and distributors. While these assessments are being used externally, follow-up of these assessments internally within UNEP is not evident. The division's work on early warning is not as successful. The links between the work of UNEP in environmental activities and disaster risk and its overall work in early warning and assessment need to be better understood and integrated. Also, the work of the Global Research Information Database (GRID) network as a whole and how it feeds into the assessment processes needs to be better defined.