This research document presents the annual meta-analysis of performance results regarding the delivery of decent work outcomes, based on an assessment of 45 final independent evaluations of development cooperation interventions conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2025. The study focuses on four primary performance categories aligned with OECD-DAC criteria: strategic relevance and coherence; effectiveness; sustainability and impact; and efficiency. It also includes a thematic focus on the resource efficiency of interventions from the 2022-23 and 2024-25 biennia.

Results at a glance

The 2025 findings reaffirm the strategic relevance of ILO development cooperation and its contribution to policy development and institutional strengthening. Evaluations across the portfolio highlight a continued need for realistic project design, stronger results-based management (RBM) systems, and deeper integration of cross-cutting priorities. Sustainability and impact were identified as major strengths, with 75 per cent of interventions rated as successful or highly successful. Overall effectiveness was satisfactory but uneven, as the delivery of outputs did not consistently translate into the achievement of intended outcomes. Efficiency remains the principal area for improvement, showing the greatest variability across the portfolio.

Introduction

The ILO Evaluation Office (EVAL) has conducted regular meta-analyses for over a decade to capture the organisation’s effectiveness in achieving short and medium-term objectives. The 2026 edition aggregates findings from 45 evaluations completed in 2025. The regional distribution of these interventions included 15 projects in Africa, 10 in Asia and the Pacific, 8 in Latin America and the Caribbean, 3 in the Arab States, 2 in Europe and Central Asia, and 7 inter-regional initiatives.

Key findings: performance review for 2025

Strategic relevance and coherence were strong, with 79 per cent of projects showing clear links to Programme and Budget (P&B) outcomes and 93 per cent to Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) outcomes. Effectiveness results were mixed; strongest areas included capacity building (98 per cent positive rating) and knowledge development (86 per cent). Conversely, disability inclusion (19 per cent) and environmental sustainability (35 per cent) were the weakest cross-cutting dimensions. Sustainability performance was high, with ILO expertise widely recognised by 98 per cent of stakeholders. Efficiency showed that while implementation management (69 per cent) and internal coordination (82 per cent) were strong, resource leveraging was an area of weakness, with only 19 per cent of projects performing well.

Thematic chapter – resource efficiency of ILO development cooperation interventions in the 2022-23 and 2024-25 biennia

The thematic analysis identified six key insights. Resource efficiency begins with realistic design and the use of existing systems; for example, the SCORE Phase IV in Tunisia built on previous phases to reduce start-up costs. Efficiency is also dependent on timely access to resources, as challenges often arose from procurement and disbursement delays, such as in Cameroon where repeated delays extended the project period from 24 to 42 months. Adaptive management and flexible delivery models, including hybrid in-person and virtual modalities in Haiti, helped sustain efficiency in complex contexts. Furthermore, strategic partnerships and co-financing, such as the mobilisation of €67 million in additional EU funding in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, significantly expanded results beyond core resources.

Key highlights of effectiveness results by P&B Policy Outcomes, for the 2022-23 and 2024-25 biennia

Performance varied across P&B Policy Outcomes. Outcome 3 (Full and productive employment for just transitions) was the most frequently represented with 79 reports, showing strong results in Europe and Central Asia. Notable achievements included the PROAGRO project in Ethiopia, which established the country’s first Sector Skills Body for agribusiness. Outcome 4 (Sustainable enterprises) showed positive results in 54 reports, highlighted by SME improvements in Tunisia. Outcome 6 (Protection at work for all) demonstrated good performance in 57 reports, particularly in Asia and the Pacific regarding the protection of migrant fishers through the Ship to Shore Rights programme. Outcomes 5, 8, and Enabler A had lower representativeness but showed successful results in areas like gender-responsive policy in Türkiye and informality measurement standards.

Conclusions and the way forward

The report recommends that future interventions ensure objectives, geographic scope, and resource requirements are realistically aligned from the outset through robust theories of change. Stakeholder ownership should be bolstered by engaging governments and social partners throughout the project cycle. Future programming must build on the ILO’s comparative advantages in capacity development and strategic partnerships while strengthening the links between operational support and institutional change. The report specifically suggests that disability inclusion and environmental sustainability receive more systematic attention through dedicated objectives, indicators, and budgets. Operational practices should be improved by strengthening RBM frameworks and monitoring systems to better capture behavioural and policy-level results.