Call for Applications: Evaluation Accelerator Fund (United Kingdom)

Deadline: 28-Jun-2026

The Evaluation Accelerator Fund (EAF) Phase 5 provides funding to support research, evaluation, and evidence-generation projects that improve decision-making across key UK Government priorities. The fund aims to strengthen the evidence base for public policy, improve evaluation capability, and generate actionable insights that inform spending decisions, service delivery, and future interventions.

For the 2026–2027 financial year, up to £3.5 million is available to support projects addressing priority areas such as Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), artificial intelligence, digital innovation, local government, economic growth, public services, and community safety.

About the Fund

• The fund supports evidence-based policymaking and public service improvement.
• It helps organizations generate robust evidence on what works.
• Funding supports research, evaluation, and evidence development activities.
• The programme aims to improve government decision-making.
• Projects should address significant evidence gaps.
• The fund encourages stronger evaluation capacity across sectors.
• Collaborative and partnership-based approaches are encouraged.

Fund Objectives

• Create actionable evidence for government priorities.
• Improve understanding of policy and programme impacts.
• Address critical evidence gaps.
• Strengthen evaluation capability within organizations.
• Support effective public spending decisions.
• Generate evidence of financial and efficiency savings.
• Improve service delivery outcomes.
• Support innovation through research and evaluation.

Funding Information

• Total funding available: Up to £3.5 million.
• Funding period: 2026–2027 financial year.
• Two funding strands are available.
• Individual award amounts will depend on project scope and requirements.

Funding Strands

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strand

• At least £1 million is allocated to VAWG-focused projects.
• Supports evidence generation to help achieve the UK Government goal of halving Violence Against Women and Girls by 2030.
• Focuses on strengthening evaluation and evidence capability.
• Encourages projects that support prevention and intervention efforts.

General Government Priorities Strand

• Up to £2.5 million is available.
• Supports projects focused on AI, digital innovation, local government, and wider government priorities.
• Encourages evidence generation that improves policy and service delivery outcomes.

Priority Focus Areas

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

• Online harms and digital abuse.
• Early intervention for children and young people.
• Violence prevention initiatives.
• Sexual violence prevention and response.
• Frontline service evaluation.
• Evidence generation for policy development.

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation

• AI adoption and impact.
• Digital public services.
• Technology-enabled service delivery.
• Digital transformation initiatives.
• Data-driven decision-making.

Local Government

• Local service improvement.
• Evidence-based local policymaking.
• Community outcomes.
• Public sector innovation.
• Local authority evaluation capacity.

Wider Government Priorities

• Economic growth.
• NHS improvement and healthcare innovation.
• Safer streets and community safety.
• Breaking down barriers to opportunity.
• Clean energy and sustainability initiatives.
• Public service reform.

Eligible Activities

Projects may include:

• Impact evaluations.
• Feasibility studies.
• Systematic evidence reviews.
• Value-for-money assessments.
• Implementation research.
• Outcomes framework development.
• Data infrastructure development.
• Evaluation pathway design.
• Evidence generation activities.
• Research supporting future evaluations.
• Capacity-building initiatives.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• Central government organizations.
• Local government bodies.
• What Works Centres.
• Charities.
• Universities.
• Non-profit organizations.
• Community Interest Companies (CICs).
• Research organizations.
• Philanthropic organizations.
• Benevolent and charitable organizations.

Preferred Partnerships

The fund particularly welcomes:

• Partnerships between multiple organizations.
• Collaborations between charities and universities.
• Partnerships between frontline service providers and research institutions.
• Cross-sector evaluation initiatives.
• Projects that strengthen evidence capability across organizations.

What Makes a Strong Proposal?

Successful proposals should demonstrate:

• A clear evidence gap being addressed.
• Strong evaluation methodology.
• Clear policy relevance.
• Practical application of findings.
• Access to relevant data sources.
• Robust monitoring and evaluation plans.
• Potential to influence decision-making.
• Strong delivery capacity.

Applications may be viewed more favorably if they include:

• Value-for-money assessments.
• Evaluation of frontline services.
• Matched funding contributions.
• Dedicated staff capacity for project delivery.
• Long-term evidence-building approaches.

Expected Outcomes

Funded projects are expected to contribute to:

• Improved evidence-based policymaking.
• Stronger evaluation capability.
• Better public spending decisions.
• Increased understanding of intervention effectiveness.
• Improved public service outcomes.
• Enhanced data and evidence systems.
• Greater organizational learning.
• More effective government programmes.

Why This Fund Matters

• Policymakers need reliable evidence to make informed decisions.
• Effective evaluations help identify successful interventions.
• Strong evidence improves public spending efficiency.
• Research can reveal opportunities for cost savings and service improvements.
• Better data supports long-term policy development.
• Evidence-based approaches improve outcomes for communities and public services.
• Evaluation capacity strengthens organizational effectiveness and accountability.

Application Tips

• Clearly define the evidence gap your project will address.
• Demonstrate how findings will influence policy or practice.
• Include a strong evaluation framework.
• Show that necessary data can be collected or accessed.
• Highlight partnerships that strengthen project delivery.
• Explain how outcomes will be measured and used.
• Include value-for-money considerations where possible.
• Demonstrate organizational capacity and expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Evaluation Accelerator Fund (EAF)?

• The EAF is a funding programme that supports research and evaluation projects designed to improve evidence-based decision-making across government priority areas.

How much funding is available in Phase 5?

• Up to £3.5 million is available during the 2026–2027 financial year.

How much funding is allocated to Violence Against Women and Girls projects?

• At least £1 million is reserved for projects focused on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

Who can apply?

• Eligible applicants include government bodies, charities, universities, What Works Centres, non-profits, Community Interest Companies, and philanthropic organizations.

What types of projects are eligible?

• Eligible projects include impact evaluations, feasibility studies, evidence reviews, value-for-money assessments, implementation research, and data infrastructure development.

Are partnerships encouraged?

• Yes. The fund strongly encourages collaborations between organizations, including partnerships between charities, universities, and frontline service providers.

What are the key assessment factors?

• Strong proposals demonstrate policy relevance, access to data, robust evaluation methods, clear evidence needs, and the ability to improve decision-making and evaluation capability.

Conclusion

The Evaluation Accelerator Fund Phase 5 offers a significant opportunity for organizations to generate high-quality evidence that supports better public policy and service delivery. With up to £3.5 million available across priority areas including Violence Against Women and Girls, artificial intelligence, local government, and public service innovation, the fund helps strengthen evaluation capability, address evidence gaps, and improve outcomes through informed decision-making.

For more information, visit GOV.UK.