Monitoring, evaluation and learning
NIRAS provides independent monitoring, evaluation, research and learning to help development partners understand what is working, strengthen accountability and adapt programmes as Ukraine’s needs evolve. We combine robust evidence with local knowledge to support better strategic and operational decision-making.
Sida has commissioned NIRAS to carry out an ongoing, developmental evaluation of its bilateral Strategy for Sweden’s Reconstruction and Reform Cooperation with Ukraine (2023–2027). Our team acts not only as an evaluator but also as a facilitator of learning and reflection, ensuring that the evaluation feeds directly into Sida’s strategic decision-making and reporting processes. This involves close collaboration with Sida’s Unit for Ukraine, the Embassy in Kyiv, and other relevant departments, with NIRAS serving as a “critical friend” who can challenge assumptions, highlight lessons, and support adaptive management without creating parallel processes or undue burdens on staff.
The objectives of the evaluation are to assess the relevance, coherence, and effectiveness of Sida-financed development cooperation with Ukraine, while also examining the integration of cross-cutting priorities such as gender equality, conflict sensitivity, anti-corruption, digitalisation, and the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. NIRAS provides timely and actionable insights that enable Sida to make evidence-based adjustments to its Ukraine portfolio, strengthen synergies across strategies and support areas, and ultimately improve the quality and impact of Swedish development cooperation. Importantly, our evaluation approach is flexible so that questions, methods, and focus can be adapted to shifting contextual realities and Sida’s evolving needs.
Our team will deliver a series of products that facilitate ongoing learning during three rounds of reflection workshops, discussion materials, and progress reports that capture lessons and recommendations in real time; and a final evaluation report synthesising findings, conclusions, and actionable recommendations.
Verification and Technical Assurance Programme - Ukraine (VERITAS-UKR)
VERITAS-UKR aims to support the FCDO in meeting its core objective of verifying results and projects delivered thrrough its overseas development assistance (ODA) portfolio in Ukraine, which support the humanitarian response, Ukraine’s recovery, and improved governance and reform. NIRAS has a substantial role across the Third-Party Monitoring and Portfolio Evidence workstreams. It contracts and manages data-collection partners, research partners and specialist data suppliers; maintains contractual responsibility for their delivery, compliance and payment milestones; and works with Integrity Global’s technical leads to align quality assurance, data governance and performance management. Under the Portfolio Evidence workstream, NIRAS is helping provide cross-cutting research, context monitoring and decision-support products for the British Embassy in Kyiv and the FCDO. This includes managing regular nationally representative polling in Ukraine; supporting quantitative and qualitative research; maintaining and improving an interactive polling dashboard; integrating new and external evidence; undertaking horizon scanning; and translating findings into accessible analysis for country planning, scenario assessment, programme adaptation and portfolio stocktakes.
Framework agreement for consultancy services related to knowledge management in the civilian part of the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine
NIRAS was awarded this framework agreement (with a maximum budget of €1.1M) that focuses on knowledge management, research, and strategic portfolio learning for the civilian component of Norway's Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine. Thematic focus areas include governance, democracy, and human rights; cross-cutting concerns like gender equality, anti-corruption, and environmental safeguards; and conflict-sensitive and locally led development approaches. The assignment’s goal is to:
- Improve strategic decisions for selecting partners and grant interventions.
- Provide deep contextual analysis regarding Ukraine and Moldova.
- Build continuous learning loops to adapt aid portfolios effectively.
- Facilitate internal learning processes and deliver targeted knowledge products.
