Zeitschrift für Evaluation: Issue 2/2026, 25. Volume

This article examines evaluation use within the International Organization for Migration in the East and Horn of Africa, identifying factors that could enhance utilization. A descriptive and explorative case study investigated stakeholder collaboration, evaluation processes and methodologies, and organizational and local contexts as influences on evaluation use. Findings reveal evaluation use is predominantly legitimising and symbolic, conducted for donor accountability with limited local stakeholder engagement. However, an emerging learning culture shows growing instrumental and conceptual use of findings in programmatic design and internal learning. Strengthening evaluation use requires institutionalization through policy reforms addressing: technical and financial resources for quality enhancement, knowledge management systems, stakeholder engagement, and accountability to affected populations. These improvements would establish an evaluation culture balancing accountability with organizational learning.

Keywords
evaluation use, evaluation use typologies, United Nations Evaluation, stakeholder engagement, East Africa