Following several discussions on the subject of evaluation recommendations, the Evaluation Cooperation Group (ECG) decided that a Working Group on evaluation recommendations, management responses and feedback loops should be launched. This assignment produced a reference document to support this Working Group by:

• Taking stock of how ECG members and observers formulate evaluation recommendations, obtain responses to evaluation recommendations from management, engage the Board with evaluation recommendations, follow up on the implementation of evaluation recommendations, and draw on feedback loops to improve the formulation of evaluation recommendations and their implementation; and by
• Identifying lessons for promoting the recurrence of desirable outcomes in the aforementioned stages in the evaluation process, while precluding the recurrence of undesirable outcomes.

These objectives were addressed by drawing on desk research and close to 40 interviews with representatives of the evaluation, service, management and Board functions within the ECG members and observers participating in the Working Group.
The stocktaking and analysis of lessons learned identified a number of factors influencing the way the studied process are organised and implemented by the ECG members.
Particip GmbH provided quality assurance during this process.