USAID Evaluation Policy

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) administers public funds to foster sustainable development across the globe. In alignment with the mandates of its authorizing statute, the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as subsequently amended), USAID endeavors to achieve this objective through efficacious collaborations within the U.S. Government, with counterpart governments and civil society entities, as well as with a wider network of donors and technical bodies. The Agency adheres to the Paris Declaration principles, including ownership, alignment, harmonization, results-oriented management, and mutual accountability.

In executing its duties, USAID prioritizes policy and investment choices based on robust empirical evidence, leveraging program execution as a conduit for the generation of new knowledge beneficial to the broader community. The Agency is dedicated to the measurement and documentation of program outcomes and challenges, aiming to provide its diverse stakeholders with a clear understanding of the developmental return on investment.

USAID acknowledges the critical role of evaluation, as a mechanism to acquire systematic and meaningful feedback regarding the successes and challenges of its initiatives. Evaluation furnishes essential information and analysis to avert the repetition of errors and enhances the likelihood of future endeavors yielding superior benefits. While evaluation must be situated within a framework that favors evidence-based decision-making and values learning and honesty above the mere portrayal of success, the practice of evaluation is crucial for the Agency’s continued vitality. This policy is an extension of the Agency's extensive and pioneering background in evaluation. Following the issuance of the Evaluation Policy in 2011, USAID has endeavored to augment both the quantity and quality of its evaluations, thereby informing development programming that culminates in improved outcomes. The frequency of evaluations has seen a significant increase, and USAID continues to elevate methodological stringency, evaluation quality, and the application of evaluation findings. The Agency provides training in evaluation and numerous resources to enhance methodological rigor, impartiality, accessibility of evaluation results, and the incorporation of evaluation insights into decision-making processes.

This policy is a response to contemporary demands. There is a growing expectation for respectful engagements among donors, partner governments, and beneficiaries, along with a call for greater transparency in decision-making and information disclosure. Current development initiatives span not only traditional long-term investments in infrastructure, public sector capabilities, and human capital but also shorter-term actions aimed at bolstering stabilization in contexts confronted with multifaceted challenges. These aspects of the modern milieu have informed a policy that sets elevated standards for evaluation practices while acknowledging the necessity for varied methodologies.

The purpose of this policy is to elucidate for USAID personnel, partners, and stakeholders the objectives of evaluation, the required and recommended types of evaluations, and the methodologies for designing, executing, disseminating, and utilizing evaluations. Primarily intended to guide USAID staff in evaluation practices within Agency-managed programs, it also communicates USAID’s evaluation approach to implementing partners and key stakeholders.

Significantly, this policy draws upon the evaluation principles and guidelines established by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Evaluation Network. It is also congruent with the Department of State Evaluation Policy, with which USAID will collaborate closely, particularly with the Department of State Bureau of Resource Management, to ensure cohesive evaluation guidelines and procedures. Furthermore, USAID will work in tandem with the Department of State’s Office of the Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance to fortify evaluation policies, procedures, standards, and practices for foreign assistance program evaluation.

This policy also contributes to the implementation of the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2016 and the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, aligning with existing USAID policies, strategies, and operational guidance. These include directives on project and activity design, evaluation competencies of staff, performance monitoring, knowledge management, and research management. The policy is operational through USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS) Chapter 201 Program Cycle Operational Policy.