Effective: April 1, 2026
Section: Budgeting
Administrator: Deputy Secretary to the Financial Management Board
Applicability: GNWT Departments and Housing NWT

POLICY

GNWT Departments and Housing NWT shall foster a culture of continuous improvement through systematic program evaluation practices. These practices are designed to support informed decision-making, enhance the performance of programs and services, and promote responsible resource allocation.

PURPOSE

The GNWT Evaluation Policy establishes a structured framework for program design, monitoring, and evaluation that:

1. Promotes a government-wide culture where staff value and apply evaluation techniques to enhance program and service delivery;
2. Supports evidence-based decision-making through the collection and use of objective, reliable, and high-integrity data;
3. Ensures consistent and systematic application of evaluation practices to maximize public value;
4. Demonstrates good governance by providing transparent, objective evidence for decision-making;
5. Enhances program management by clarifying program goals, tracking progress across outcomes, and identifying areas for improvement; and
6. Ensures that evaluation results are implemented wherever possible to realize and sustain benefits.

SCOPE

Applies to all departments, and Housing NWT. It governs the planning, implementation, and reporting of program evaluations across public service organizations. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Deputy Head (or equivalent)

Accountable for the administration and implementation of this Directive and all associated interpretation Bulletins in their Departments and Housing NWT.

Deputy Secretary to the Financial Management Board

May approve Interpretation Bulletins associated with this policy and/or may issue further guidelines on the application and any matters concerning the operation of the GNWT Evaluation Policy.

AUTHORITIES and REFERENCES

• Financial Administration Act (FAA)
  • Section 7
  • Section 10
  • Program Evaluation Policy
  • Delegation of Authority Regulations

INTERPRETATION BULLETINS

IB 320.01 – Evaluation Plan

IB 320.02 – Conduct of Evaluations

IB 320.03 – Evaluation Standards

IB 320.04 – Implementing Evaluation Results and Reporting

IB 320.05 – Responsibilities – Management Board Secretariat, Departments, and Housing NWT.