The long-term objective of the United Nations Online Network in Public Administration and Finance (UNPAN) is to build the capacity of selected regional partner institutions (ORPs) to access, process and disseminate relevant information via up-to-date Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for the purpose of improving public administration globally, strengthening their capacity by giving them three types of tools: increased human resource capacity through training, technical assistance and web technology; updated hardware; and access to current and appropriate software. It has five major functions: information clearinghouse, training programs, technical advice at the field level, forum for exchange and dialogues among stakeholders, and worldwide public administration directory.The UNPAN evaluation criteria are: operational activity, technical effectiveness, ORP organizational and operational effectiveness, Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM) organizational and operational effectiveness, outcome effectiveness, conceptual validity, and UN financial/organizational assessment criteria. Data were gathered from documents and Internet sites, and from selected DPADM and ORP staff via face-to-face interviews and emailed questionnaires.UNPAN is a unique global database, a widely used and effective mechanism for building government capacity in both developed and developing countries. It should continue to transform itself into a more facilitative, customer-focused information network by effectively implementing a strategic plan that embodies IT sophistication, structural development, customer service, marketing, evaluation and sustainability. Specific recommendations are:- Site Development. UNPAN should continue to update through a multilingual home page, improved navigation, a more advanced search engine, and more interactivity.- ORP Expansion. The UNPAN Network should be expanded by creating additional ORPs.- UN Development Account Program Evaluation. Within Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), development accounts are an innovative method of reallocating resources internally to support pilot programs designed to meet the UN's Millennium Development Goals by improving public administration capacity.- UNPAN Program Evaluation. Because UNPAN's value added will increasingly be based on providing ORPs and other end users with a high quality web portal, search engine, and other services, continued IT evaluation and upgrading should remain a high priority.- Content Evaluation. UNPAN should consider using a range of web-based end user ratings (e.g., those used by BizRate.com, Amazon.com, and Project MUSE to monitor and enhance quality.- Marketing. As its role shifts from direct support or ORPs to UNPAN Network facilitation, DPADM should focus on developing a flexible, customer-focused Network marketing strategy.- Online Training and Technical Assistance. DPADM should provide an online training platform to ORPs; ORPs should use this platform to offer training and technical assistance to end users.- Strategic Alignment and Support. While development accounts are an innovative funding mechanism for new programs, UNPAN's continued success requires that it be integrated into and aligned with the DPADM/DESA mission, and adequately supported and resourced.

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