Program evaluation framework

This whole of government program evaluation framework integrates evaluation into the Northern Territory Government’s policy and budget development processes and aims to improve transparency and accountability, and encourage better use of Territory Government funds by:

• ensuring new programs and extensions to existing programs have identified goals and objectives that are achievable and measurable or include actions to develop measurement as part of the program
• ensuring new programs and extensions to existing programs have an evaluation strategy
• incorporating sunset provisions in new programs, linked to evaluation outcomes
• establishing a rolling schedule of evaluations to ensure existing programs are evaluated over time
• providing a clear mandate for agencies to evaluate their programs and target their investments
• outlining expected evaluation principles and standards
• providing government with clear advice about the costs and benefits of evaluation (including data collection and analysis) to help inform evaluation decisions
• establishing a protocol for policy and program officers to plan for evaluation across the program lifecycle (with a step-by-step guide in the online evaluation toolkit)
• establishing a tiered system of evaluations to ensure evaluation is proportionate to the cost, risk and complexity of a program
• describing how the Territory Government can build evaluation capability within the Northern Territory Public Sector and foster a culture of continuous improvement
• outlining how the Territory Government will measure progress in implementing the framework.

Territory Government agencies must use the framework and toolkit to help plan, commission and use evaluations. The framework and toolkit may also provide useful guidance for Territory Government service delivery partners and external evaluators of Territory Government programs.

The program evaluation framework was internally reviewed in 2023 and will be externally reviewed in 2024-25. View the framework PDF (924.4 KB).

View the process evaluation PDF (1.2 MB) of the program evaluation framework.

Any queries can be directed to DTF.ProgramEvaluation@nt.gov.au