This paper presents the work of a group named Erefin associating evaluation officers from a number of French research institutions involved in mission-oriented research. The work relies on practical experience of evaluation in these different institutions. It has the operational objectives to provide common tools to help the institution, the divisions and the research groups to describe their scientific profiles and strategies, to achieve self-evaluation and to prepare evaluation reports for the assessment by external visiting committees. The provided tools are both general and versatile so that they are applicable to a large range of disciplines and research practices and respect each specific research type.