UN-Water External Review

This report summarises the methodology, process and main findings and recommendations of the external review of UN-Water, performed in 2009. The review was informed by in-depth discussions with key stakeholder groups and an analysis of all relevant materials produced by UN-Water in order to provide insight into the performance of UN-Water against its mandate and objectives and propose a way forward that would ensure the sustainability and continued success of the Mechanism.

The review used an adapted ‘Results Based Management’ perspective described further in this report to assess the impact of UN-Water’s activities against desired targets. Key aspects of the approach used to carry out the review were the use of an organisational development perspective rooted in the context of maximum participation such that the final review would reflect the views of most of the stakeholders of UN-Water and be based on consensus and agreement.

The aim was to assess UN-Water within its own terms and where possible, draw lessons from different contexts and prior experience of the reviewers, while ensuring that the final product truly echoed the views of UN-Water Members, Partners and Donors and conclusions reached focused on future actions and potential changes that could build on the added value that UN-Water provides.