Framework & evaluations

A clear framework is essential to guide monitoring and evaluation activities. Our performance evaluation, risk, and audit framework (PERAF) describes our objectives and activities, and sets out the approach we use to monitor risk as well as demonstrate how activities lead to desired outcomes and impacts. The performance measurement and evaluation strategy within the PERAF describes the information we track and how we use it to assess our performance in relation to our objectives and expected results.

Our Performance, evaluation, risk and audit framework (PERAF) serves as a guide for how we manage risk and track and assess our performance in relation to our objectives and expected results. The PERAF is reviewed and updated as necessary to ensure that it remains relevant to management and is aligned with our contribution agreement with the government of Canada. The PERAF includes our logic model, organizational risk assessment and risk management plan, performance measurement framework, and overarching evaluation strategy.

Performance, evaluation, risk and audit framework

We periodically undertake various types of evaluations to support organizational learning, to inform operational and strategic decisions and to remain accountable for the use of public funds. We participate in evaluations of joint or collaborative programs such as the Canada Research Chairs program. We also evaluate our own programs, activities and initiatives as deemed useful for program design and delivery. Through our evaluation activities, we examine issues such as relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, as well as performance, impact and sustainability.


Overall performance evaluation and value-for-money audit

As part of our past funding agreements with the Government of Canada, we are required to have an independent third party carry out an overall performance evaluation of our activities and funded projects at least every five years. In the 2007 and 2010 agreements, the Government also required that a performance or value-for-money audit be completed. The 2015 Contribution Agreement no longer requires that either an overall performance evaluation or a value-for-money audit be carried out.
 

2015 Overall performance evaluation and value-for-money audit

Bell Browne Molnar & Delicate Consulting Inc. conducted the 2015 Overall performance evaluation and value-for-money audit. They analyzed the activities of the CFI during a five-year period, from 2009 to 2013, using a meta-analysis of internal documents, interviews with stakeholders and a survey of principal users of CFI-funded infrastructure.

Overall performance evaluation of the Canada Foundation for Innovation March 2015

Response to the overall performance evaluation of the Canada Foundation for Innovation March 2015

Value-for-money audit of the Canada Foundation for Innovation March 2015


2010 Overall performance evaluation and value-for-money audit

KPMG conducted the 2010 overall performance evaluation and value-for-money audit. In addition, a panel of seven international experts in research and research funding reviewed the findings and produced an independent report.

Overall performance evaluation and value-for-money audit (OPEA) – Evaluation component 2010

Response to the overall performance evaluation of the Canada Foundation for Innovation 2010

Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Performance audit 2010

International Review Panel Report 2010