Definition
A Scope of Work (SoW) is a formal document that defines the deliverables, timeline, budget, and constraints for an evaluation, consultancy, or research engagement. It specifies what the evaluator or consultant will investigate, what methods they will use, what outputs they will produce, and when. The SoW is often interchangeable with Terms of Reference (ToR) in evaluation contexts, though ToR sometimes includes additional information about the programme or policy being evaluated.
Why It Matters
A clear, detailed SoW prevents misalignment between commissioners and evaluators. Without it, evaluators may over-interpret the scope of work, consuming budget on questions that were not priority; commissioners may have unrealistic expectations about depth or timeline; and disputes arise late in the engagement when corrections are expensive. A well-crafted SoW also forces the programme team to clarify what they actually want to learn before hiring an evaluator, improving the quality of the evaluation itself.
In Practice
A typical SoW includes: (1) Background, brief context on the programme and why evaluation is needed; (2) Evaluation questions, the 3-7 core questions the evaluation will answer; (3) Scope and limitations, what is and is not included; (4) Methodology, data collection methods and sampling approach; (5) Deliverables, reports, datasets, presentations, and their due dates; (6) Timeline, start date, milestones, and completion date; (7) Budget and resource requirements; (8) Management and reporting lines. Some organizations require a SoW to include provision for data sharing, confidentiality protocols, and intellectual property ownership.
Related Topics
- Terms of Reference for Evaluation, The legal and governance framework for an evaluation
- Evaluation Questions, What the evaluation will investigate
- MEL Plans, The broader monitoring and evaluation framework
- Evaluability Assessment, Whether a programme is ready to be evaluated