The Equal Access to Justice Project (A2J) was launched in August 2004. The evaluation was expected to be conducted as an Outcome evaluation covering the North, East and Uva Provinces and some national level areas, taking into account the impact of the existing political and socio-economic context upon the programmes and the implementation modality. The geographical coverage of the evaluation included the Districts of Jaffna and Vavunia in the North, Batticaloa in the East and Badulla in the Uva Province.

The overall objective of the evaluation was to assess the results, achievements and constraints of Outcome 5 in relation to the UNDP contribution to the outcome, up to and including the year 2011. The evaluation was to be undertaken through (i) Outcome Analysis, (ii) Output Analysis and (iii) Output-Outcome link. While taking stock of the past, the evaluation was required to conduct a forward-looking analysis. In the evaluation the following Cross Cutting Issues were given consideration: (i) Gender, (ii) A rights-based approach to programming, (iii) Sensitivity to conflict and fragility and (iv) Accountability, monitoring, evaluation and learning.