This discussion paper is dedicated to the question of how human rights and gender equality can be systematically integrated into the evaluation practice of development cooperation. Based on the observation that, despite far-reaching frameworks and political guidelines, the de-facto implementation of human rights based approaches in evaluations remains incomplete. The aim of the paper is therefore to promote a conceptual understanding of human rights-based evaluation and to provide practical guidelines for its implementation. The introduction of the Human Rights Integration Intensity Scale (HRIIS) and its application to human rights principles are at the focus of the paper. The HRIIS identifies three levels of intensity in how human rights principles are integrated: sensitive, responsive, and transformative. By introducing the HRIIS, attention is paid to the idea that evaluations should not be understood exclusively as “human rights-based” or “non-human rights-based” but can be designed gradually or progressively - along a continuum. The paper emphasises that the progressive implementation of human rights-based evaluations promotes both high quality evaluations and more equitable evaluation practices. The discussion paper aims to contribute to and encourage the further development of professional and human rights-based evaluation practice and to invite critical reflection within the evaluation community.
Taube et al. (Fri,) studied this question.