Méta‑évaluation des politiques publiques et qualité des évaluations

Meta‑Evaluation of Public Policy and the Quality of Evaluations -- Evaluations are executed so as to assess quality standards. However, in the reality of evaluation practices, evaluators adapt in function of the difficulties present when fulfilling their role and certain specifications inherent to their job. Thus, the quality of evaluation ultimately merits an assessment of its own when it comes time to deliver those reports (a counter‑report). Meta‑evaluation is more ambitious, seemingly on its way to becoming an activity that is defined throughout international literature as the evaluation of one or more evaluations (second level of evaluation). Can we introduce this concept and refine it? How can meta‑evaluation be described? Which activities characterise this process? What is its link with quality‑assurance for evaluation processes? In order to present this little‑known topic in France, four stances on meta‑evaluation - and their corresponding examples - are reviewed. The conclusion is the inevitable development of this reflexive evaluation activity to be applied on public policies and related programs in France.