USAID Capacity Assessment for Evidence Management and Use

The assessment is mandated by the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, which emphasizes collaboration and coordination to advance data and evidence-building functions in the Federal Government. The assessment aims to determine the boundaries of analysis and what constitutes the capacity of USAID, with a focus on the agency's operating units, including bureaus and missions. The primary customer for this evaluation is the Office of Learning, Evaluation and Research in the Bureau of Policy, Planning and Learning (PPL/LER), while secondary customers include Monitoring and Evaluation points of contact around the Agency, in Washington offices and overseas Missions. The assessment will be conducted in a phased approach, with Phase 1 focusing on research and design. This phase involves a holistic desk review of existing information, literature, data, and relevant guidance from both outside and inside USAID. The research will supplement existing knowledge about the 2018 Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act and OMB requirements, and will compile agency-wide evaluations commissioned by PPL/LER, evaluations in the registry, evaluation reports posted in the Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC), data on the USAID Development lab, reports by implementing partners, events and public panels by USAID experts, reports to Congress, and meta-evaluations and assessments by outside groups like the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN). The assessment will also involve a formalized consultation with PPL, the identification and assembly of a team of internal and external subject matter experts, and the facilitation of a series of strategic sessions to shape final assessment study questions and the assessment design. The team will create strategic communication materials, including a report that details all necessary requirements for the Capacity Assessment under the Evidence Act and a comprehensive summary of existing resources that demonstrate the Agency's evaluation, research, and analysis capacity. The assessment will focus on several key areas, including the agency's key evaluation, research, and analysis needs, the current evaluation, research, and analysis activities, and the current level of maturity of USAID's monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) capabilities. The assessment will also examine the current methodologies used for evaluation, research, analysis, and learning efforts, and will identify the best set of internal and external stakeholders to advise on evaluation-related capacity assessment and organization transformation. The Capacity Assessment for Evidence Management and Use is a critical component of USAID's efforts to promote civic engagement, deliver on mission, support public and private decision-making, and effectively steward resources. The assessment will provide baseline information, insights into how to enhance capacity within USAID, and what changes might support a higher level of ability, and will inform the development of effective capacity building activities to support USAID's transformation into an effective learning organization.