HomeAbout …Evidence, Evaluation, and Learning hide Evidence, Evaluation, and Learning Evidence Act Evaluations at State Learning BRIEFS Learning Agenda Annual Evaluation Plan Department Capacity Assessment Evidence Act The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Evidence Act) created a new paradigm for Federal agencies to more strategically and holistically build evidence and use it for decision-making. It also established a statutory system for program evaluation, which has spurred agencies to improve how they address pressing challenges by asking and answering evaluation questions. Title I of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Evidence Act) requires agency heads to complete an agency-level evidence-building plan (learning agenda), evaluation plan, and assessment of capacity to support the development and use of evidence. Explore the Department’s Evidence Act work below. Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2019 The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2019, also known as the Evidence Act, requires federal agencies to develop evidence to support policymaking. Agencies must annually submit a systematic plan for identifying and addressing policy questions to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congress. Through the preparation of Learning Agendas, Evaluation Plans, and Capacity Assessments, agencies strategically plan for evidence building and data management while upholding their commitment to scientific integrity. Title 1 of the Evidence Act details Federal Evidence-Building Activities, Title II established the Open Government Data Act, and Title III of the Act discusses Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency. What is Evidence? Evidence is viewed as the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid. Evidence can be quantitative or qualitative and may come from a variety of sources including foundational fact finding, performance measurement, policy analysis, and program evaluation. Evidence has varying degrees of credibility, and the strongest evidence comes from a portfolio of high quality, credible sources rather than a single source. For more detail and definitions please reference OMB Guidance M-20-12 . Evidence Act Implementation at State The Evidence Act is embedded within the dynamic Managing for Results (MfR) framework, the Department of State’s approach to planning, budgeting, program design, performance management, evaluation, and learning. Within the Evidence Act, the Learning Agenda is an effort to institutionalize evidence-based learning and use data to enhance U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance. It is included in the four-year State-USAID Joint Strategic Plan (JSP) and poses eight policy-relevant learning questions that cover the range of the Department’s activities. Managing for Results Framework Learning Agenda The 2022-2026 Department Learning Agenda is an unprecedented effort to build evidence into the Department’s policymaking over the next four years. Annual Evaluation Plan The Annual Evaluation Plan describes the significant evaluation activities that the agency plans to conduct in the FY following the year in which it is submitted. Department Capacity Assessment The Capacity Assessment is a review to generate and apply evidence through performance monitoring, evaluation, statistics, and research and analysis. Evidence Act Evaluations at State Learning briefs Learning Agenda Annual Evaluation Plan Department Capacity Assessment Evaluations at State In accordance with the Department of State’s program and project design, monitoring, and evaluation policy, the Office of Foreign Assistance publishes full evaluations of unclassified foreign assistance evaluations on a rolling basis. Visit the Foreign Assistance Resource Library to view published evaluations. Evidence Act Evaluations at State Learning briefs Learning Agenda Annual Evaluation Plan Department Capacity Assessment Learning Briefs Learning briefs allow bureaus and independent offices to publish summaries of evaluation and other learning activities when appropriate or in addition to their full report. Short and high impact, learning briefs make evidence accessible for any audience to facilitate evidence-use in decision-making. Explore the learning briefs. Evidence Act Evaluations at State Learning briefs Learning Agenda Annual Evaluation Plan Department Capacity Assessment Learning Agenda In accordance with Title I of the Evidence Act, The Department of State has codified their learning priorities in the 2022-2026 Department Learning Agenda, an unprecedented effort to build evidence into the Department’s policymaking over four years. Bureau/Office Learning Agendas Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 2022-2026 Department Learning Agenda Questions Updated February 21, 2025 Question 1 Diplomatic Engagement How can the State Department improve the effectiveness of its diplomatic interventions to better advance foreign policy objectives? Question 2 Foreign Assistance How can the Department improve the effectiveness and sustainability of its foreign assistance efforts? Question 3 Pandemics and Global Emergencies How can the Department better respond to unpredictable international events and emergencies such as global pandemics? Question 4 Global Disinformation How should the Department confront the rise of global disinformation and its negative effects on the security and prosperity of the United States? Question 5 Consular Affairs How can the Department balance customer service expectations with national security and cost-effectiveness to provide a better customer service experience to U.S. citizens, and to foreign nationals seeking visas? Question 6 Risk Management How can the Department more effectively analyze and manage risks to promote a safe and secure working environment for its staff and partners? Question 7 Performance Management and Evaluation How can the Department utilize performance management and evaluation data and data systems to improve decision-making? Evidence Act Evaluations at State Learning briefs Learning Agenda Annual Evaluation Plan Department Capacity Assessment Annual Evaluation Plan Title 1 of the Evidence Act requires agencies to develop an Annual Evaluation Plan (AEP), which describes the significant evaluation activities that the agency plans to conduct in the FY following the year in which it is submitted. The Department’s AEP includes evaluations critical to the Department’s strategic goals that align with, and help answer, the priority questions published in the Department of State Fiscal Years 2022-2026 Learning Agenda. Learning Agenda priority questions address critical evidence gaps in institutional knowledge and are intended to improve the Department’s operations and performance. FY 2025 Annual Evaluation Plan FY 2024 Annual Evaluation Plan FY 2023 Annual Evaluation Plan FY 2022 Annual Evaluation Plan Evidence Act Evaluations at State Learning briefs Learning Agenda Annual Evaluation Plan Department Capacity Assessment Department Capacity Assessment The Evidence Act requires agencies to review their capacity to generate and apply evidence through performance monitoring, evaluation, statistics, and research and analysis. Download Capacity Assessment [2 MB] Tags Bureau of Budget and Planning Evaluations Foreign Assistance Foreign Policy Office of Foreign Assistance Planning, Budgeting, Managing, and Learning
