It is important to know if programs, policies, and initiatives are working as intended and valuable. To achieve this, the Evaluation and Accountability Division is responsible for supporting the evaluation of programs, policies, processes and initiatives across Government. We are available to assist departments in defining metrics for measuring success, assist in creating evaluation plans for new and existing policies and programs, and provide evaluation and continuous improvement training. We collaborate to lead evaluations for government initiatives, operating in an internal consultant capacity.

An evaluation can take many forms but can include topics such as:

• How is the initiative being implemented and is it being implemented as designed?
• Does the initiative feature any design flaws that may impact success?
• Needs Assessment: Review of data/materials to define the level of need present for a given initiative.
• Has the program achieved its intended objectives? Have there been any unintended consequences?
• Cost-benefit evaluation: Analysis of cost of initiative versus outcome/output produced.
• How does the program/initiative align with broader strategic planning?
• Key performance indicator (KPI) Development: for organizational-level operations, KPIs can be developed that represent a measure success of that initiative or objective.

Evaluating a program or initiative can make it more effective, efficient, and ensure it is achieving its intended outcomes. One common tool that can be used to evaluate a program is a logic model. A logic model is a visual representation of a program’s resources, activities, and expected outcomes. Once developed, it can be used as a metric of the success of the program/initiative. To get started, you can download our logic model template.

Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement reduces steps in a process to improve services and shorten timelines for government programs and supports. These improvements can happen over time or all at once. Continuous improvement also builds a work culture that encourages employees to share their ideas for improvement. The Evaluation and Accountability Division works with departments and entities to assist in establishing continuous improvement procedures and identifying areas for further improvement. The Evaluation and Accountability Division also works to improve service delivery by:

• Supporting the development of performance measurement frameworks.
• Identifying key performance indicators that can measure effectiveness, highlight successes, and identify where improvements are needed.

To learn more about evaluation and continuous improvement, visit the Canadian Evaluation Society.