Notice2023-06317
USAID Revisions to ADS 201 Evaluation Report Requirements
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 28, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agency for International Development
Abstract
The Foreign Assistance Transparency and Accountability Act (2016) and The Foundations for Evidence Based Policy-Making Act (2019) enhance the transparency, accuracy, and reliability of USAID program and activity evaluations and processes of data collection and reporting. To comply with these Acts, USAID is currently revising the policy associated with its Evaluation Report Requirements. The requirements collect information from evaluators to establish the validity of research methodologies, standardize the presentation of research, ensure accuracy, and identify any conflicts of interest that could create bias or influence data analysis, findings, or recommendations. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as amended, USAID is soliciting comments for this collection.
Full Text
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 18292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06317]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 59 / Tuesday, March 28, 2023 /
Notices
[[Page 18292]]
AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
USAID Revisions to ADS 201 Evaluation Report Requirements
AGENCY: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The Foreign Assistance Transparency and Accountability Act
(2016) and The Foundations for Evidence Based Policy-Making Act (2019)
enhance the transparency, accuracy, and reliability of USAID program
and activity evaluations and processes of data collection and
reporting. To comply with these Acts, USAID is currently revising the
policy associated with its Evaluation Report Requirements. The
requirements collect information from evaluators to establish the
validity of research methodologies, standardize the presentation of
research, ensure accuracy, and identify any conflicts of interest that
could create bias or influence data analysis, findings, or
recommendations. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as
amended, USAID is soliciting comments for this collection.
DATES: USAID intends to issue the policy revisions in mid-2023.
Comments are due May 23, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 60 days of publication of
this notice to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find this particular
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 60-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tania Alfonso, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dca8bdb0bab3b2afb39ca9afbdb5b8f2bbb3aa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7b0f1a171d141508143b0e081a121f551c140d">[email protected]</span></a>,
202-712-0144.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USAID, in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the
general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on
the proposed survey.
Title of Collection: USAID Revisions to ADS 201 Evaluation Report
Requirements.
OMB Control Number: XXXXXX.
Type of Review: A new information collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: USAID evaluation contractors.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 130.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 2,730.
Abstract: After a contractor is hired to evaluate a program or
activity, USAID issues to the contractor three standardized information
collection forms that are designed to ensure compliance with data
quality and reporting standards as outlined in USAID's Automated
Directives System (ADS) 201 and its annexes, including: one of three
optional Evaluation Design Matrices; an Evaluation Report Template to
be used for the submission of the final, and; a Disclosure of Conflicts
of Interest to be completed by the contractor's team leaders and
researchers. The Evaluation Design Matrix provides a structured format
for the contractor to present the overall approach and methodology for
the contracted evaluation. Specifically, the optional form asks
contractors to detail key research questions, sources of information,
scope and methodology, and study limitations in the form of a table.
The Evaluation Report Template guides the evaluator in submitting a
final draft of the research report, including requiring the use of
appropriate branding and marking on the cover page, style and
formatting of the report, and required information and order of
sections. Finally, external evaluators and evaluation team members are
required to complete and submit to USAID a Disclosure of Conflicts of
Interest form to disclose all relevant facts regarding real or
potential conflicts of interest that could lead reasonable third
parties with knowledge of the relevant facts and circumstances to
conclude that the evaluator or evaluation team member is not able to
maintain independence and, thus, is not capable of exercising objective
and impartial judgment on all issues associated with conducting and
reporting the work. USAID uses the data from the collection of
information in these three types of forms for internal decision-making
and external reporting requirements to the U.S. Congress. Copies of the
information collection forms can be found in USAID's Learning Lab in
the Evaluation Toolkit. The data collected in the required forms will
be available to the public when the Final Report is posted on the
Development Experience Clearinghouse.
USAID and the Office of Management and Budget are particularly
interested in comments that:
1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submissions of responses.
Tania Alfonso,
PPL/LER, Program Cycle Supervisory Team Lead, USAID.
[FR Doc. 2023-06317 Filed 3-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6116-01-P
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