Aims: The World Health Organization (WHO) Health Emergency Programme funded three systematic reviews to inform development of guidance for emergency preparedness in health emergencies. The current review investigated the type of learning interventions that have been developed and used during health emergencies, and how they were developed. Methods: We searched PubMed, CINAHL, Communication and Mass Media Complete (EBSCO), and Web of Science. Study quality was appraised by WHO-recommended method-specific checklists. Findings were extracted using a narrative summary approach. Results: 187 studies were included. Studies were split between online, in-person, and hybrid modalities, conducted mostly by hospitals and universities, and most frequently training nurses and doctors. Studies emphasized experiential learning to develop and reinforce skills; online learning for knowledge dissemination; multi-sectoral partnerships, institutional support and carefully constructed planning task forces, rapid training development and dissemination, and use of training models. Conclusion: It Most studies evaluated only knowledge or self-confidence of trainees. Relatively few assessed skills; evaluations of long-term outcomes were rare. Little evidence is available about comparative effectiveness of different approaches, or optimum frequency and length of training programming. Based on principles induced, six recommendations for future JIT training are presented.

Background: The economic and public health benefits of adult pneumococcal vaccines vary across countries due to different epidemiology and costs. We systematically reviewed and summarized findings and assumptions of cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA) of the recently introduced 15- and 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV15 and PCV20) in adults. Methods: We performed a systematic search for CEA studies of PCV15 and/or PCV20 versus existing strategies via PubMed, EMBASE, CEA Registry, EconLit, HTA Database, and NITAG resource center through April 23, 2024. Study characteristics, methods, assumptions, and findings were extracted independently by two reviewers; quality was assessed using ECOBIAS. Results were synthesized qualitatively to summarize key attributes and conclusions. Results: Of 137 identified records, 26 studies were included; the majority (24/26) concerned high-income countries. All employed static Markov-type models comparing higher-valent PCVs used alone or in combination with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) to current recommendations (PPSV23 alone, PCV13 alone, PCV13 + PPSV23, no vaccination). Most studies (22/26) concluded PCV20 used alone was cost-saving (dominant) or cost-effective compared to other adult pneumococcal strategies (PPSV23 alone, PCV13 ± PPSV23, PCV15 ± PPSV23, or no vaccination). PCVs were generally assumed to have serotype-specific effectiveness equal to PCV13 efficacy in the pivotal trial, though four studies used estimates from a Delphi panel; protection was assumed to last between 10 and 20 years. PPSV23 was assumed to have lower effectiveness against non-bacteremic pneumonia and shorter duration of protection. Herd effects from higher-valent PCVs in childhood (12/26), serotype replacement (2/26), or both (1/26) were included in half (13/26) of studies, which attenuated adult vaccine impact. Most studies were assessed as low risk of bias; five abstracts did not provide sufficient information for assessment. Conclusion: Current evidence indicates that 20-valent PCV used alone is likely to be cost-effective or dominate other adult pneumococcal strategies. Future research is needed to address remaining uncertainties in assumptions and to support evidence-based policymaking.

Overview Equitable access to learning opportunities is one of UNICEF strategic priorities, described in the organization’s SPs and Education Strategy. Since 2010, UNICEF has been supporting out-of-school children and adolescents through its participation in the Global Initiative for Out-of-School Children (OoSCI). The school closures and the mobility restrictions experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic increased the number of children and adolescents at risk of not returning to school, particularly affecting the most marginalized and vulnerable. The evaluation aims at generating evidence to assess the work done by UNICEF in this area for accountability and learning purposes. 22. More recently, to expand access to learning and skill development opportunities for children and adolescents, the organization is rolling out the Multiple and Flexible Pathways Initiative. This initiative focuses on supporting the most marginalized and vulnerable, including efforts to guide policy reforms and to improve public budgeting and financing strategies to expand access to MFPs to learning and skills development. This initiative is being guided by the 2020 Secondary Education Guidance: Multiple and Flexible Pathway and the 2015 and 2023 OosCI operational manuals. The evaluation will assess prior and ongoing work in this area with a learning and forward-looking purpose. The overall objective of this evaluation is to assess UNICEF work in support of addressing the issues as they relate to ISCA at risk of dropping out of school and out-of-school children and adolescents (OoSCA). The evaluation aims to evaluate the extent to which UNICEF efforts have made a difference in supporting the school retention and the transition into higher formal education levels of ISCA at risk of dropping out; facilitating the return to formal education of OoSCA; and increasing the access to MFPs to learning and skills development. Report Details Year Published 2025 Type Project/Programme Joint No Partner/s N/A Consultant name Tami Aritomi Agency Focal Point Wycliffe Otieno Focal Point Email wotieno@unicef.org Managed by Independent Evaluation Office No Geographic Scope Country Country/ies United States

Rationale: Despite growing emphasis among healthcare decision-makers on patient perspectives and real-world outcomes to inform care and access decisions, understanding of patient journey experiences in rare diseases remains limited due to data collection and evaluation challenges. Aims and objectives: This systematic literature review (SLR) assessed study designs, methodologies, and outcomes reported in real-world investigations of rare disease patient journeys. Methods: Searches in PubMed and Google Scholar targeted English-language publications and congress proceedings from 1 January 2014, to 30 April 2024, including rare disease patients, caregivers, or healthcare providers. Keywords included 'Journey', 'Path', or 'Odyssey'. Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility and abstracted data. Descriptive analyses and quality assessments were conducted. Results: Thirty-one studies met inclusion criteria, with 296,548 participants spanning over 600 rare diseases. Most studies used prospective observational (61%) and cross-sectional (26%) designs and were conducted in Europe (45%). Interviews (39%) and surveys (29%) were common methodologies. Patients (87%) were the primary research focus, compared to caregivers (32%) or providers (10%). The most studied journey stages were 'Pre-diagnosis/Screening' (97%) and 'Diagnosis' (84%), while 'Disease Awareness' (16%) and 'Treatment Adherence' (6%) were less common. Across 164 outcomes reported, frequent outcomes included 'Healthcare Resource Utilization' (94%), 'Symptoms' (74%), and 'Time-to-Diagnosis' (71%). Fewer studies reported 'Costs' (19%), 'Caregiver/Family Burden' (16%), and 'Productivity' (13%). Time-to-diagnosis averaged 11.8 years and a median of 6.1 years. All but one study (97%) was rated low or very low quality due to observational designs. Conclusion: Most rare disease patient journey evidence focuses on 'Pre-diagnosis/Screening' and 'Diagnosis' stages using qualitative methods and surveys. While symptoms, time-to-diagnosis, and resource utilization were commonly reported, evidence gaps included treatment adherence, caregiver burden and productivity. Longitudinal assessments to collect real-world care and treatment burden outcomes, including caregiver perspectives, can enhance both clinician and policy decision-making for individuals living with rare diseases.

Objectives: This study aims to summarize the existing research literature examining Medicare-skilled home health (HH) utilization and clinical outcomes for persons with dementia (PwD). We sought to answer the following questions: (1) How is dementia defined and classified in the HH literature? (2) What associations have been observed between dementia status and patterns of HH utilization? (3) What associations have been observed between dementia status and HH outcomes? Methods: Using Arksey and O'Malley's framework for scoping reviews, we searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and select relevant journals for quantitative studies conducted in the United States between 2000 and 2023 examining Medicare HH use and outcomes for PwD. We describe and compare approaches to classify dementia, identify findings related to HH utilization and outcomes supported by the preponderance of evidence, and comment on existing gaps and areas of ambiguity in the literature. Results: Thirty-two articles met the inclusion criteria. Most used claims-based data to classify dementia, leveraged national data, and were limited to traditional Medicare beneficiaries. Studies found meaningful differences in HH utilization by dementia status; most notably, PwD were more likely to access HH without a preceding hospitalization, had longer lengths of stay, and incurred higher HH costs. Literature relating to clinical outcomes was more difficult to interpret, due to significant variation in study objectives, samples, and outcome measures which prompted more nuanced and even contradictory conclusions. There is a dearth of research identifying how specific HH care pathways (e.g., service types, visit frequency) impact outcomes for this patient population. Conclusions: This review supports the understanding that PwD are a unique subpopulation of HH patients who require special attention in policy development and evaluation. Critical research is needed to examine clinical outcomes in PwD further to inform practice and improve care quality.

Background: Expanding chronic hepatitis B (CHB) testing through effective implementation strategies in primary- and community-care setting is crucial for elimination. Our study aimed to determine the effectiveness of all available strategies in the literature and evaluate their specifications and implementation outcomes, thereby informing future programming and policymaking. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD42023455781), searching Scopus, Embase, PubMed, and CINAHL databases up to June 05, 2024, for randomized controlled trials investigating primary- and community-care-based implementation strategies to promote CHB testing. Studies were screened against a priori eligibility criteria, and their data were extracted using a standardized protocol if included. ROB-2 was used to assess the risk of bias. Implementation strategies' components were characterized using the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) framework. Random-effect models were applied to pool the effectiveness estimate by strategy. Mixed-effect meta-regression was employed to investigate if effectiveness varied by the number of strategy's BCW components. Findings: 7146 unique records were identified. 25 studies were eligible for the review, contributing 130,598 participants. 19 studies were included in the meta-analysis. No studies were conducted in low-and-middle-income countries. Implementation outcomes were reported in only ten studies (40%). Community-based strategies included lay health workers-led education (Pooled Risk Difference = 27.9% [95% Confidence Interval = 3.4-52.4], I2 = 99.3%) or crowdsourced education on social media (3.1% [-2.2 to 8.4], 0.0%). Primary care-based strategies consisted of electronic alert system (8.4% [3.7-13.1], 95.0%) and healthcare providers-led education (HCPs, 62.5% [53.1-71.9], 27.5%). The number of BCW-framework-driven strategy components showed a significant dose-response relationship with effectiveness. Interpretation: HCPs-led education stands out, and more enriched multicomponent strategies had better effectiveness. Future implementation strategies should consider critical contextual factors and policies to achieve a sustainable impact towards hepatitis B elimination targets. Funding: Tran Dolch Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Hepatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD, USA.

The number of health care educational institutions/organizations adopting implicit bias training is growing. Our systematic review of 77 studies (published 1 January 2003 through 21 September 2022) investigated how implicit bias training in health care is designed/delivered and whether gaps in knowledge translation compromised the reliability and validity of the training. The primary training target was race/ethnicity (49.3%); trainings commonly lack specificity on addressing implicit prejudice or stereotyping (67.5%). They involved a combination of hands-on and didactic approaches, lasting an average of 343.15 min, often delivered in a single day (53.2%). Trainings also exhibit translational gaps, diverging from current literature (10 to 67.5%), and lack internal (99.9%), face (93.5%), and external (100%) validity. Implicit bias trainings in health care are characterized by bias in methodological quality and translational gaps, potentially compromising their impacts.

Background The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) is key for policy making. Low back pain is the leading cause of disability in terms of years lived with disability (YLDs). Due to sparse data, a current limitation of GDB is that a uniform severity distribution is presumed based on 12-Item Short Form Health Survey scores derived from US Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (MEPS). We present a novel approach to estimate the effect of exposure to health interventions on the severity of low back pain by country and over time. Methods We extracted treatment effects for ten low back pain interventions from the Cochrane Database, combining these with coverage data from the MEPS to estimate the hypothetical severity in the absence of treatment in the USA. Severity across countries was then graded using the Health Access and Quality Index, allowing estimates of averted and avoidable burden under various treatment scenarios. Findings We included 210 trials from 36 Cochrane systematic reviews in the network analysis. The pooled effect sizes (measured as a standardised mean difference) for the most effective intervention classes were -0460 (95% uncertainty interval -0606 to -0309) for a combination of psychological and physical interventions and -0366 (-0525 to -0207) for surgery. Globally, access to treatment averted an estimated 176% (148 to 238) of the low back pain burden in 2020. If all countries had provided access to treatment at a level estimated for Iceland with the highest Health Access and Quality Index score, an extra 91% (64 to 112) of the burden of low back pain could be avoided. Even with full coverage of optimal treatment, a large proportion (659% [569 to 704]) of the low back pain burden is unavoidable. Interpretation This methodology fills an important shortcoming in the GBD by accounting for low back pain severity variations over time and between countries. Assumptions of unequal treatment access increased YLD estimates in resource-poor settings, with a modest decrease in countries with higher Health Access and Quality Index scores. Nonetheless, the large proportion of unavoidable burden indicates poor intervention efficacy. This method, applicable to other GBD conditions, provides policy makers with insights into health gains from improved treatment and underscores the importance of investing in research for new interventions.

Importance: Falls are the most common cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality in older adults. Objective: To systematically review evidence on the effectiveness and harms of fall prevention interventions in community-dwelling older adults. Data sources: MEDLINE, Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials for relevant English-language literature published between January 1, 2016, and May 8, 2023, with ongoing surveillance through March 22, 2024. Study selection: Randomized clinical trials of interventions to prevent falls in community-dwelling adults 65 years or older. Data extraction and synthesis: Critical appraisal and data abstraction by 2 independent reviewers. Random-effects meta-analyses with Knapp-Hartung adjustment. Main outcomes and measures: Falls, injurious falls, fall-related fractures, hospitalizations or emergency department visits, people with 1 or more falls, people with injurious falls, people with fall-related fractures, and harms. Results: Eighty-three fair- to good-quality randomized clinical trials (n = 48 839) examined the effectiveness of 6 fall prevention interventions in older adults. This article focuses on the 2 most studied intervention types: multifactorial (28 studies; n = 27 784) and exercise (37 studies; n = 16 117) interventions. Multifactorial interventions were associated with a statistically significant reduction in falls (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.84 [95% CI, 0.74-0.95]) but not a statistically significant reduction in individual risk of 1 or more falls (relative risk [RR], 0.96 [95% CI, 0.91-1.02]), injurious falls (IRR, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.84-1.01]), fall-related fractures (IRR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.81-1.26]), individual risk of injurious falls (RR, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.83-1.02]), or individual risk of fall-related fractures (RR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.60-1.24]). Exercise interventions were associated with statistically significant reductions in falls (IRR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.75-0.96]), individual risk of 1 or more falls (RR, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.87-0.98]), and injurious falls (IRR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.74-0.95]) but not individual risk of injurious falls (RR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.79-1.02]). Harms associated with multifactorial and exercise interventions were not well reported and were generally rare, minor musculoskeletal symptoms associated with exercise. Conclusions and relevance: Multifactorial and exercise interventions were associated with reduced falls in multiple good-quality trials. Exercise demonstrated the most consistent statistically significant benefit across multiple fall-related outcomes.

Importance: The overdose epidemic continues in the US, with 107 941 overdose deaths in 2022 and countless lives affected by the addiction crisis. Although widespread efforts to train and support physicians to implement medications and other evidence-based substance use disorder interventions have been ongoing, adoption of these evidence-based practices (EBPs) by physicians remains low. Objective: To describe physician-reported reasons for reluctance to address substance use and addiction in their clinical practices using screening, treatment, harm reduction, or recovery support interventions. Data sources: A literature search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, medRxiv, and SSRN Medical Research Network was conducted and returned articles published from January 1, 1960, through October 5, 2021. Study selection: Publications that included physicians, discussed substance use interventions, and presented data on reasons for reluctance to intervene in addiction were included. Data extraction and synthesis: Two reviewers (L.N., M.C., L.F., J.P., C.S., and S.W.) independently reviewed each publication; a third reviewer resolved discordant votes (M.C. and W.C.). This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines and the theoretical domains framework was used to systematically extract reluctance reasons. Main outcomes and measures: The primary outcome was reasons for physician reluctance to address substance use disorder. The association of reasons for reluctance with practice setting and drug type was also measured. Reasons and other variables were determined according to predefined criteria. Results: A total of 183 of 9308 returned studies reporting data collected from 66 732 physicians were included. Most studies reported survey data. Alcohol, nicotine, and opioids were the most often studied substances; screening and treatment were the most often studied interventions. The most common reluctance reasons were lack of institutional support (173 of 213 articles [81.2%]), knowledge (174 of 242 articles [71.9%]), skill (170 of 230 articles [73.9%]), and cognitive capacity (136 of 185 articles [73.5%]). Reimbursement concerns were also noted. Bivariate analysis revealed associations between these reasons and physician specialty, intervention type, and drug. Conclusions and relevance: In this systematic review of reasons for physician reluctance to intervene in addiction, the most common reasons were lack of institutional support, knowledge, skill, and cognitive capacity. Targeting these reasons with education and training, policy development, and program implementation may improve adoption by physicians of EBPs for substance use and addiction care. Future studies of physician-reported reasons for reluctance to adopt EBPs may be improved through use of a theoretical framework and improved adherence to and reporting of survey development best practices; development of a validated survey instrument may further improve study results.

Background: We explore the feasibility of applying methods of participatory codesign to collaborative service development with community -led youth diversion programmes. Collaborative partnerships can support wealth redistribution and community mobilisation, a goal of governments aiming to implement equity -focused policy. There is little systematic exploration of methods aiming to structure the relationship between government and community -led programmes as part of youth criminal -legal diversion efforts. Methods: We use case study methodology to assess the feasibility and impact of a curriculum codesign approach between a university research team and two community -led organisations providing diversion services through a county juvenile court. The codesign method was informed by participatory design and use of research evidence frameworks. Findings: The analysis focuses on the feasibility of the approach from the perspective of the university research team and community organisations as well as how well the approach successfully navigated critical components of participatory process, including shared power, deference to community vision and values, and a valued end product. We conclude that the approach was generally feasible as a quality improvement strategy and well -received by the community -led organisations. Discussion and conclusions: Codesign is a promising strategy for reconciling public administration and health equity goals. The approach used in this case study adds to a small literature on methods of using codesign as a quality improvement process with applications for government contracting and monitoring, programme development and capacity -building.

Advance care planning (ACP) supports individuals in aligning their medical care with personal values and preferences in the face of serious illness. The variety of ACP tools available reflects diverse strategies intended to facilitate these critical conversations, yet evaluations of their effectiveness often show mixed results. Following the Arskey and O'Malley framework, this scoping review aims to synthesize the range of ACP tools targeted at patients and families, highlighting their characteristics and delivery methods to better understand their impact and development over time. Studies included focused on patient-facing ACP tools across all settings and mediums. Exclusions were applied to studies solely targeting healthcare providers or those only aiming at completion of advance directives without broader ACP discussions. Searches were conducted across PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Data were extracted using a predesigned spreadsheet, capturing study population, setting, intervention modality, and intervention theme. Tools were categorized by delivery method and further analyzed through a year-wise distribution to track trends and developments. We identified 99 unique patient-facing tools, with those focusing on counseling (31) and video technologies (21) being the most prevalent while others incorporated online platforms, print materials, games, or some combination of different delivery methods. Over half the tools were designed for specific patient groups, especially for various diseases and racial or ethnic communities. Recent years showed a surge in tool variety and innovation, including integrated patient portals and psychological techniques. The review demonstrates a broad array of innovative ACP tools that facilitate personalized and effective ACP. Our findings contribute to an enhanced understanding of their utilization and potential impacts, offering valuable insights for future tool development and policy making in ACP.

Overview The purpose of the evaluation is to gain insights into the Strategic Plan’s fitness for purpose, the extent to which its intended results have been or are likely to be achieved by the end of the period, and to draw lessons to inform the design of the next strategic plan. Report Details Year Published 2024 Type Project/Programme Joint No Partner/s N/A Consultant name Universalia Agency Focal Point Vidhya Ganesh Focal Point Email vganesh@unicef.org Managed by Independent Evaluation Office No Geographic Scope Country Country/ies United States

Overview The synthesis "Are We Getting There? A synthesis of UN system evaluations of SDG 5" identified a significant number of evaluations of inter-agency programmes. This report examines inter-agency evaluations from the main synthesis, with additional evaluations that were completed in 2023 and therefore not represented in the earlier analysis. In total, 68 inter-agency evaluations were analysed for their evidence on five key questions about the strategic significance, effectiveness and coherence of inter-agency programming; enablers and barriers to inter-agency programming; recommendations from evaluations on inter-agency programming; evidence gaps in the available data; and lessons to draw from inter-agency programming for SDG 5. Report Details Year Published 2024 Type Project/Programme Joint No Partner/s N/A Agency Focal Point Giuliano Bianchini Focal Point Email gbianchini@unicef.org Managed by Independent Evaluation Office No Geographic Scope Country Country/ies United States

Overview Protracted armed conflict, widespread economic collapse, and overstretched national systems and services have left 20.7 million people, including 11.3 million children, in need of humanitarian assistance.1 UNICEF’s Executive Director activated the Corporate Emergency Procedure Level 3 Scale-Up Procedure for Yemen in July 2015 which remains in place today. The evaluation of UNICEF’s Response in Yemen has both an accountability and learning purpose. It fulfils the requirement of the UNICEF Evaluation Policy (2018) whereby all L3 emergencies must be evaluated, and it is also expected to help the UNICEF Yemen Country Office, the MENA Regional Office, and various divisions in headquarters by generating learning to inform local strategies, programming and operations in Yemen and, where relevant, other emergency contexts through identified best practices and lessons learned. The specific objectives are to provide a comprehensive assessment of UNICEF’s overall response in Yemen measured against its own mandate, corporate commitments, stated objectives and standard evaluation criteria; based on the collation and analysis of relevant data and information, make recommendations to improve the response in Yemen and similar responses elsewhere in the future. The evaluation will focus on UNICEF programming in all governorates where UNICEF implements programmatic activities throughout Yemen. It is important to consider where UNICEF has not been able to programme, despite the existence of humanitarian needs, and why this was so. The evaluation will consider UNICEF’s response from 2019 to the present with a focus on the more recent years. Recommendations will be made based on an analysis of the future challenges likely faced by UNICEF and the wider humanitarian system in Yemen. Report Details Year Published 2024 Type Project/Programme Joint No Partner/s N/A Consultant name Marzia Montemurro, Ed Schenkenberg Agency Focal Point Sarah Capper Focal Point Email scapper@unicef.org Managed by Independent Evaluation Office No Geographic Scope Country Country/ies United StatesYemen, Rep.

Overview An evaluation of UNICEF's response to the L3 earthquake emergency in Türkiye / Syria Report Details Year Published 2024 Type Project/Programme Joint No Partner/s N/A Agency Focal Point Carlotta Tincati Focal Point Email ctincati@unicef.org Managed by Independent Evaluation Office No Geographic Scope Country Country/ies United States

Overview Evaluation of UNICEF's response to the L3 emergency in Ukraine Report Details Year Published 2024 Type Project/Programme Joint No Partner/s N/A Consultant name Landell Mills Agency Focal Point Michele Tarsilla Focal Point Email mtarsilla@unicef.org Managed by Independent Evaluation Office No Geographic Scope Country Country/ies United States

Overview Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents are emerging as major development concerns globally, impacting countries across various economic strata. Factors contributing to this trend include poor feeding practices in early childhood, increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, expensive nutritious and diverse food options, limited physical activity spaces, and social and gender norms. In 2019, UNICEF expanded its nutrition programming to prevent overweight and obesity in children and adolescents, thus addressing the triple burden of malnutrition in children: undernutrition (stunting and wasting), micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight and obesity. This programmatic shift to include the prevention of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents is reflected by the inclusion of specific targets and monitoring indicators in the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and the development of comprehensive programming guidance. The UNICEF Evaluation Office commissioned the Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI) to conduct an evaluation of UNICEF’s work on preventing overweight and obesity among children and adolescents. The evaluation was organized around six key criteria: relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and UNICEF’s positioning and leadership in preventing overweight and obesity among children and adolescents. This global synthesis report is the final one developed as part of the evaluation, complementing the four individual case study reports. Report Details Year Published 2024 Type Project/Programme Joint No Partner/s N/A Agency Focal Point Beth Ann Plowman Focal Point Email baplowman@unicef.org Managed by Independent Evaluation Office No Geographic Scope Country Country/ies United States

Overview UNICEF, in its Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and accompanying Theory of Change, seeks to integrate mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) within the theories of change and across results frameworks for Goal Areas 1, 2 and 3. These changes will strengthen MHPSS solutions across the organization, while leveraging existing sectoral system strengthening, coordination and delivery mechanisms where UNICEF has experience and credibility. To better prepare for and position future evaluative work of UNICEF’s work in MHPSS, the Evaluation Office launched an exercise to examine and document the status of UNICEF’s MHPSS programming (‘evaluative baseline’) and to prepare a long-term evaluation plan. The intent of evaluative baseline, covering the strategy cycle 2018-2021, is to provide a retrospective assessment of UNICEF’s work in MHPSS including trends and changes over the period. The baseline will help to guide future evaluation work and provide insights that might also inform programming. Areas of interest include strategies, programmes, investments and implementing modalities. The baseline will include information of two types: 1) a portfolio approach relying on information in corporate systems that is, generally, available across organizational units and 2) light touch profiles in 19 countries to complement the above. The intent of evaluative plan is to help UNICEF establish a road map with timing and priorities for evaluating its MHPSS programming over the period 2022 through 2029. Areas of interest for the evaluation plan include a focus on evaluation design, consideration for multiple evaluative exercises, timing for any such evaluations; key evaluation question areas; evaluation methods; as well as inputs (resources and expertise) needed for an evaluation. Report Details Year Published 2024 Type Project/Programme Joint No Partner/s N/A Consultant name Arkadii Toritsyn,Timothy Williams, Mariel Kislig, Eduard Bonet, Beth Plowman Agency Focal Point Eduard Bonet Porqueras Focal Point Email ebonet@unicef.org Managed by Independent Evaluation Office No Geographic Scope Country Country/ies United States

Overview The evaluation aimed to assess UNICEF’s performance in implementing Gender Action Plans (GAP 2 and GAP 3), as well as the new Gender Policy. While primarily retrospective, it also had a forward-looking focus, offering evidence-based insights to support learning and inform UNICEF’s future strategic planning for gender equality. The evaluation considered the evolving development landscape, including UN Reform and the urgency to accelerate progress during the Decade of Action toward the 2030 Agenda. Report Details Year Published 2024 Type Project/Programme Joint No Partner/s N/A Consultant name Social Development Direct Agency Focal Point Lauren Rumble Focal Point Email lrumble@unicef.org Managed by Independent Evaluation Office No Geographic Scope Country Country/ies United StatesBangladeshEgypt, Arab Rep.PeruBosnia and HerzegovinaCongo, Dem. Rep.MozambiqueFijiMyanmar