First envisaged as part of the UN’s Strategic Framework initiative, which was launched in 1998, AREU was established in 2000 as the Strategic Monitoring Unit (SMU), with a director and a management board consisting of three UN, three NGO and three donor representatives. The SMU was not to focus on individual projects; rather, it was to look at the broad strategies and themes outlined in the Strategic Framework document and evaluate the overall impact of the assistance effort. Following the events of 11 September 2001, and the subsequent shift in the assistance context, the assistance committee determined that the SMU would be more effective as an independent, policy research institute; and AREU was formed in February 2002.
This report presents the findings and conclusions of the evaluation of the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) performed by Tana Copenhagen and Indevelop AB, commissioned by Sida and implemented Autumn 2013.