Steps to be taken to "operationalize" evaluation, i.e., to make evaluation work, are discussed and applied to the Unesco program of functional literacy. Evaluation is seen as an important social concern, as well as a field of study and an area of competence. Four types of evaluation applied to the Unesco program are context evaluation, input evaluation, process evaluation, and output evaluation. The steps taken in operationalization are: (1) developing a generalized system model for the program; (2) designing an appropriate evaluation system; (3) designing a data system. It is stressed that evaluation is a group task from planning through completion, with the evaluator fulfilling his special technical role. A data system for functional literacy is shown to include both numerical information and documentation, with most of the data relating to four social configurations--individuals, groups, institutions, and sub-cultures--but with some of the data relating to tools, techniques, and artifacts that the four social configurations worked with to create development. In conclusion, it is pointed out that there is no complete evaluation system, rather, each project must build its evaluation system in terms of its needs, priorities, and resources. (DB)