An evaluation roadmap for a more effective government

In keeping with our mission, the American Evaluation Association hereby describes its vision of the
role of evaluation in the federal government. We provide a roadmap for improving government
through evaluation, outlining steps to strengthen the practice of evaluation throughout the life
cycle of programs.
Evaluation is an essential function of government. It can enhance oversight and accountability of
federal programs, improve the effectiveness and efficiency of services, assess which programs are
working and which are not, and provide critical information needed for making difficult decisions
about them.