Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
ILAB closely monitors the performance of our projects, assesses their effectiveness, and ensures good stewardship of public funds. Our projects begin by developing a Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (CMEP) or Results Framework, which define the intended project objectives and outcomes and the benchmarks for measuring achievement.
Independent external evaluators and auditors review project performance and compliance with required regulations at various stages during project implementation. We work in collaboration with our implementers to address any challenges identified and contribute to project success. These assessments help both ILAB and our implementers to improve current projects and to implement effective approaches in future projects.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning
Monitoring
ILAB facilitates the development of project monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plans for ILAB-funded projects to track project results and inform project management. ILAB develops these M&E plans jointly with project implementers. They are grounded in results-based management principles that guide the process of monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on project progress. The M&E plan serves as a resource for projects and for DOL for evidence-based project management, decision-making, and accountability. Several independent performance evaluations have noted that ILAB's M&E plans are effective project management tools that help to build stakeholder buy-in for project activities and results given their active participation in the development of the M&E plan. ILAB also uses third-party audits and attestation engagements as monitoring and oversight tools to ensure the accuracy of performance and financial data, and as an opportunity to work with grantees to improve project management and outcomes.
Evaluation
ILAB's approach to evaluations aligns with the principles outlined in DOL's Evaluation Policy. ILAB commissions performance evaluations at least once in most projects' lifetime with a focus on eight core areas: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, impact, independence, transparency and ethics. ILAB also supports rigorous impact evaluations to increase knowledge and understanding of the effectiveness of various government and non-government programs and interventions in reducing child labor, forced labor or human trafficking. Since 2005, ILAB has supported impact evaluation research, including 18 randomized control trial impact evaluations – a type of evaluation that provides rigorous evidence about what works, and what does not work, in achieving intended outcomes.
Research
ILAB invests in primary research and research tools to increase the global knowledge base on the prevalence, nature, and scope of child labor and forced labor. We use these studies to inform policy engagement and technical cooperation; provide insight into the nature of exploitation, risk factors, and practices that increase workers' vulnerability; and increase countries' and researchers' capacity to generate robust data. ILAB has also supported the establishment of global estimates on child labor and forced labor, which serve as the worldwide standard for measuring progress on these issues.
Learning
ILAB promotes a culture of continual improvement and employs various methods to ensure that good practices and lessons learned from monitoring and evaluation activities are documented, shared, and considered in the development of new programming. ILAB facilitates opportunities for reflection and discussion on evaluation findings and publishes all evaluation reports on our website.
OTLA Synthesis Evaluation Report (2020) (PDF)
OCFT Synthesis Report (2019) (PDF)
OCFT Cocoa/Fishing Synthesis Report (2022) (PDF)
OCFT Cocoa/Fishing Synthesis Summary Brief (2022) (PDF)
Cross Program Evaluation of Effects of COVID-19 on ILAB Projects
Evaluation Brief
Evaluation Report
Thematic case studies:
- Going Virtual
- From Lemons to Lemonade: Finding Creative Solutions to COVID-19 Related Challenges
- Adaptive Management to Prioritize Safety and Success
- Data Collection
- New Tools
- Capitalizing on Emerging Opportunities in a Virtual Environment
- Renewed Commitment to Social Protections for Factory Workers in the Garment Industry
| Title | Evaluation Type | Location | Grantee | Start Sort ascending | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Helping Protect Armenians’ Rights TogetherThis project will promote greater compliance with labor law and increase workers’ access to judicial and non-judicial remedies for labor violations in Armenia, with a focus on the mining and service sectors. |
Interim evaluation | Armenia | International Labour Organization | 11/12/2020 | 05/11/2024 |
Helping Protect Armenians’ Rights TogetherThis project will promote greater compliance with labor law and increase workers’ access to judicial and non-judicial remedies for labor violations in Armenia, with a focus on the mining and service sectors. |
Interim Evaluation Infographic | Armenia | International Labour Organization | 11/12/2020 | 05/11/2024 |
Attaining Lasting Change (ATLAS)The ATLAS project seeks to build the capacity of governments to more effectively combat child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking by helping them strengthen their laws and regulations, improve their capacity to enforce them, and strengthen coordination between law enforcement and social protection entities. |
Interim evaluation | Argentina, Bolivia, Global, Liberia, Paraguay, Thailand | Winrock International | 01/01/2019 | 03/28/2023 |
Strengthening Labor Law EnforcementThis project enhances governments’ capacity to create, implement, and monitor the application of labor laws by working with ministries of labor, labor judges, and other judicial labor authorities. It seeks to use data collected from labor inspections to identify gaps that facilitate violations and to support legal reforms to address them. The project also uses data analytics to identify and combat labor inspection corruption, waste and inefficiency, and identifies regional inspection units in need of training and capacity building. |
Honduras Interim Evaluation Infographic | Georgia, Global, Honduras, Mexico | American Institutes for Research | 01/01/2019 | 12/31/2026 |
Strengthening Labor Law EnforcementThis project enhances governments’ capacity to create, implement, and monitor the application of labor laws by working with ministries of labor, labor judges, and other judicial labor authorities. It seeks to use data collected from labor inspections to identify gaps that facilitate violations and to support legal reforms to address them. The project also uses data analytics to identify and combat labor inspection corruption, waste and inefficiency, and identifies regional inspection units in need of training and capacity building. |
Mexico Interim Evaluation Infographic | Georgia, Global, Honduras, Mexico | American Institutes for Research | 01/01/2019 | 12/31/2026 |
Palma Futuro: Preventing and Reducing Child Labor and Forced Labor in Palm Oil Supply ChainsThis project works to improve the implementation of social compliance systems that promote acceptable conditions of work and the prevention and reduction of child and forced labor in palm oil supply chains in Colombia and Ecuador. It also disseminates best practices in social compliance systems in these and other palm oil producing countries, particularly Brazil and Peru. |
Interim Evaluation Infographic | Colombia, Ecuador | Partners of the Americas | 01/01/2019 | 12/31/2022 |
Strengthening Labor Law EnforcementThis project enhances governments’ capacity to create, implement, and monitor the application of labor laws by working with ministries of labor, labor judges, and other judicial labor authorities. It seeks to use data collected from labor inspections to identify gaps that facilitate violations and to support legal reforms to address them. The project also uses data analytics to identify and combat labor inspection corruption, waste and inefficiency, and identifies regional inspection units in need of training and capacity building. |
3- Country Evaluation Infographic | Georgia, Global, Honduras, Mexico | American Institutes for Research | 01/01/2019 | 12/31/2026 |
Improving the Capacity of Labor and Agriculture Stakeholders to Address Child Labor in Agricultural Areas of Argentina ProjectThis project is building the capacity of labor and agriculture stakeholders to more effectively implement the National Action Plan on Child Labor and coordinate efforts to combat child labor. The project is generating knowledge and information on child labor and adolescent work in agriculture; raising awareness of and advocating for a solution to the problem; and helping labor and agriculture stakeholders build their capacity to address child labor by designing local-level models, methodologies, and tools. |
Multi-Project Evaluation | Argentina | International Labor Organization (ILO) | 01/01/2019 | 08/31/2023 |
Strengthening Labor Law EnforcementThis project enhances governments’ capacity to create, implement, and monitor the application of labor laws by working with ministries of labor, labor judges, and other judicial labor authorities. It seeks to use data collected from labor inspections to identify gaps that facilitate violations and to support legal reforms to address them. The project also uses data analytics to identify and combat labor inspection corruption, waste and inefficiency, and identifies regional inspection units in need of training and capacity building. |
Honduras Interim Evaluation | Georgia, Global, Honduras, Mexico | American Institutes for Research | 01/01/2019 | 12/31/2026 |
Strengthening Labor Law EnforcementThis project enhances governments’ capacity to create, implement, and monitor the application of labor laws by working with ministries of labor, labor judges, and other judicial labor authorities. It seeks to use data collected from labor inspections to identify gaps that facilitate violations and to support legal reforms to address them. The project also uses data analytics to identify and combat labor inspection corruption, waste and inefficiency, and identifies regional inspection units in need of training and capacity building. |
Mexico Interim Evaluation | Georgia, Global, Honduras, Mexico | American Institutes for Research | 01/01/2019 | 12/31/2026 |