Sec. 8201. Monitoring and evaluation of foreign assistance
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/bill/113/hr/1793/ih/section-8201A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The President shall develop and implement a rigorous system to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of foreign assistance. In order to avoid duplication, ensure comprehensive coverage, promote high and uniform standards, and facilitate comparability of results and the development of a strong body of evidence, the system required under subsection
(a)shall include— a method of coordinating evaluation activities among all Federal agencies carrying out foreign assistance; and a process for consulting with relevant stakeholders and subject matter experts, as appropriate, on the planning, design, and implementation of evaluation activities and dissemination of evaluation findings. In carrying out subsection (a), the President shall ensure that the head of each Federal agency takes the following actions with regard to foreign assistance carried out by that agency: Establish measurable and meaningful performance objectives, including disaggregation by sex and age where appropriate. Establish criteria for the selection of programs, projects, and activities to be subject to various evaluation methodologies, with a particular emphasis on impact evaluation. Establish or designate an organizational unit with adequate staff and resources to oversee and provide technical support for evaluation activities. Develop a plan for improving the capacity of the agency to conduct rigorous, relevant, and objective program monitoring and evaluation, including by— providing relevant education and training opportunities; encouraging the adoption of improved methodologies for data collection and analysis; and ensuring that best practices are shared within and between agencies. Establish guidelines for enhancing, in cooperation with other donors, the capacity of partner countries to monitor the use of and evaluate the impact of donor assistance. Establish a process for applying the findings and results of monitoring and evaluation activities, including impact evaluation research, into future program planning, budgeting, design, and implementation. Establish a policy for the publication of program evaluations. Develop, in consultation with relevant stakeholders an annual evaluation plan that describes how the agency will meet the requirements of this section. Identify the source or mechanism of funding to conduct monitoring and evaluation of foreign assistance carried out by such agency. The President shall ensure that the evaluation plans required by subsection (c)(8) are submitted to the appropriate congressional committees each year along with the annual budget presentation, and are published on a government Internet website. To the extent feasible and appropriate, evaluation activities carried out pursuant to the requirements of this section shall be carried out by, or with the participation of, organizations in the partner country. In this section: The term evaluation means the systematic and objective determination and assessment of the design, implementation, and results of an on-going or completed program, project, or activity, including an explanation of the reasons or causes for the observed results. The term impact means a long-term effect of a program, project, or activity, whether positive or negative, direct or indirect, intended or unintended. The term impact evaluation research means the application of research methods and statistical analysis to measure the extent to which an impact can be attributed to a foreign assistance program, project, or activity rather than to other factors.