Program evaluation standards and policy

What is it about?

This article describes how the Government of Prince Edward Island developed evaluation standards and guidelines to support better evaluation practice across government. It explains the step-by-step process used, including identifying needs, consulting civil servants, studying existing standards, building consensus, seeking external review, and securing endorsement. The article shows that creating evaluation guidance can do more than produce a useful document. The process itself can help build evaluation capacity by bringing people together, encouraging shared understanding, and strengthening relationships across departments. The article offers practical insight for governments and evaluators interested in improving evaluation systems in a collaborative and realistic way.

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Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash

Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This article is important because it shows how governments can strengthen evaluation practice by developing clear, shared standards and guidelines. Evaluation guidance is often treated as a technical product, but this article shows that the process of creating it can also build evaluation capacity. By involving civil servants, drawing on existing standards, seeking external review, and building consensus, the Government of Prince Edward Island created guidance that reflected both professional expectations and practical government realities. The article offers a useful example for governments, evaluators, and public sector organizations that want to improve evaluation quality in a collaborative and sustainable way.