It takes two: On the independence of independent evaluation functions

The prime argument for independent evaluations is the avoidance of bias. Independence safeguards the evaluation process from undue influence and reinforces scientific rigour. Organisations often formalise this by separating evaluation from operations. Evaluation functions are less often located in separate organisations. This strong understanding of independence – functional and organisational – was adopted for evaluation of Sweden’s official development assistance, ODA. The Expert Group for Aid Studies, EBA, was set up after some 20 years testing out different evaluation models. How does such an organisation make itself useful and relevant to stakeholders? Does it support increased use of knowledge and ‘evidence’ in an inherently political, and increasingly politicised, policy area like ODA? We discuss how EBA is both instructed and self-governed to achieve relevance while also maintaining independence. A key argument is that formal arrangements for organisational independence have to be complemented by a shared ambition to preserve that independence in practice.