Effective Date: April 1 ,2026
Applicable FAM Policies: 320 - Evaluation
Applicability: GNWT Departments and Housing NWT

INTERPRETATION

Departments and Housing NWT are responsible for carrying out evaluations of their programs and services in line with the requirements of this Policy.

The Department of Finance - Management Board Secretariat (MBS) is responsible for making sure the Policy is applied consistently across the GNWT and that evaluations meet high standards.

Departments and Housing NWT must consult with MBS when planning evaluations. This collaboration happens during the annual business planning process.

Mandatory Requirements

All evaluations undertaken in the GNWT are to have an evaluation team that must include at least one member who is a Credentialed Evaluator (CE) with the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES).

Program Evaluation Guides and Training Resources

To support consistent and high-quality evaluations across the GNWT, the Department of Finance provides program evaluation guides and training resources. These guides and training resources are designed to help departments plan, conduct, report, and understand how evaluations practices should align with the GNWT Evaluation Policy. 

Guides

• Logic Model Guidelines
• Monitoring and Evaluation Guide
• Performance Measurement Plan Guidelines
• Theory of Change Guidelines
• Theory of Change Narrative
• Evaluation Terms

Use of Approved Templates

The Department of Finance provides standardized templates for program designs and evaluation reports. Departments and/or agencies are encouraged to use these templates for consistency and standardization across the GNWT. Where a Department chooses to deviate from the template structure, consultation with MBS is required. 

Templates

• Evaluation Matrix Template
• Logic Model Template
• Theory of Change Template
• Performance Measurement Plan Template
• Evaluation Framework Template

Funding of Evaluation Costs

Departments are responsible for the costs of evaluating the programs they manage.

Departments are expected to incorporate evaluation funding into their operational budgets and planning cycles to ensure evaluations are adequately resourced. Where external evaluators are engaged, departments and agencies must follow GNWT procurement guidelines and ensure that funding allocations reflect the scope and complexity of the evaluation. In cases where evaluations span multiple departments and agencies or involve interdepartmental initiatives, funding responsibilities should be shared proportionally and clearly defined in advance.