Evaluation and Audit

By carefully evaluating and auditing our work, we maintain its quality, learn where we need to improve and make sure the money we spend is accounted for and represents good value for the taxpayer’s money.

Improving quality

We are committed to quality and to ensuring that our work brings changes to the lives of the very poor. Development is complex and the context is always changing so we need to constantly evaluate our work to see how well we are doing and what is working. That way, we can adapt our programming and polices accordingly.

For this reason, we put a lot of emphasis on the independence of the evaluation process. Evaluation gives an impartial assessment of how well we are meeting our objectives. And it offers useful lessons to guide Irish Aid in its future planning.  

And as part of our commitment to accountability and transparency, we make the findings available and publish the results of our evaluations. You can find all our evaluation reports in our Publications section.

Giving value for money

In the current economic climate, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform strongly emphasises the need for public services to achieve value for money. We carry out special assessments of spending, as part of the Government’s Value for Money and Policy Review programme. These assessments judge how relevant spending has been and how efficiently and effectively the money has been used. 

Combatting Fraud

Fraud is an inherent risk given the complex and often challenging environment in which our development programme is delivered.

The Counter Fraud policy of the Department of Foreign Affairs which affirms our zero tolerance towards fraud sets out the procedures for the prevention, detection and dealing with instances of fraud or suspected fraud, including in partner organisations.

Irish Aid Fraud Report Q3 2022 update

‌Irish Aid Fraud Report Q1 2023 update

Irish Aid Fraud Report Q2 2023 update

Audit – following the money trail

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for managing considerable public funds. Its Evaluation and Audit Unit ensures that the Department’s internal control systems are robust so that the public can be sure that funds are properly accounted for and used for their intended purposes.

Audits highlight any important weaknesses and provide advice on how to improve these controls. Our work in Evaluation and Audit is overseen by an independent Audit Committee, which publishes a report each year (download below).‌