Efficiency

Efficiency is one of five evaluation criteria used by the Organisation of Economic Development Cooperation (OECD). The other four are coherence, relevance, sustainability, impact, and effectiveness. The OECD Development Assistance Committee Network on Development Evaluation defines efficiency as “the extent to which the intervention delivers, or is likely to deliver, results in an economic and timely way”. In simpler terms, the main question under efficiency is “how well are resources being used?”.

Definition adapted from OECD/DAC Network on Development Evaluation (2019):“Better Criteria for Better Evaluations. Revised Evaluation Criteria. Definitions and Principles for Use”.