"Built on our agency’s rich tradition of evaluation, this policy sets out an ambitious recommitment to learn as we do, updating our standards and practices to address contemporary needs. In an increasingly complex operating environment, the discipline of development demands a strong practice and use of evaluation as a crucial tool to inform our global development efforts, and to enable us to make hard choices based on the best available evidence.

"This policy was developed in response to calls from within USAID.The development professionals who apply their best thinking to solve hard problems know that we can learn more systematically from our work, and that we can more rigorously and credibly document our programs’ effectiveness. I have been inspired to see the broad and active engagement throughout the organization in establishing high standards that reflect an enduring commitment to using well the resources entrusted to us."