The Urban Institute’s Federal Evaluation Forum consists of facilitated federal evaluation workshops for federal staff and administrators and public seminars and conferences on issues related to evidence-based policymaking.
Public officials at all levels of government and those who manage nonprofit human service organizations need regular, timely information on how well their services are achieving their objectives. Performance management uses performance information to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of public services.
The emphasis on evidence-based decisionmaking has increased over the past 10 years at all levels of government. At the federal level, the number of proven practices that have been adopted—such as developing learning agendas and integrating performance management with program evaluation—varies between agencies. Administrators and policymakers have a strong interest in expanding their capacity to better use evidence to inform decisions and improve program results.
The Urban Institute’s Federal Evaluation Forum consists of (1) facilitated federal evaluation workshops for federal staff and administrators and (2) public seminars and conferences on issues related to evidence-based policymaking. The forum is coordinated with the Evidence-Based Policymaking Collaborative, the Bipartisan Policy Center, the Forum for Youth Investment, and other organizations. The federal evaluation workshops are held four times a year and are designed to advance professional development and skills. The Federal Evaluation Forum is funded by grants from the Annie E. Casey, Laura and John Arnold, and W.T. Grant Foundations.
