The importance of implementation: Putting evaluation policy to work

Abstract

Federal agencies are increasingly expected to write and implement guidance for program evaluation, also known as evaluation policies. The Foundations for Evidence‐Based Policymaking Act required such policies for some federal agencies, and guidance from the White House Office of Management and Budget outlined an expectation that all agencies develop evaluation policies. Before these expectations, many federal agencies were already developing such policies to suit organizational needs and contexts. This chapter details findings from interviews with stakeholders at ten federal agencies and offices that developed and implemented evaluation policies before enacting the Foundations for Evidence‐Based Policymaking Act. These organizations represent early adopters of evaluation policies that can support future guidance and implementation of evaluation frameworks and capacity building in government. The study provides insight into the breadth and depth of the various strategies they used as well as their experiences with implementation.