The evidence barometer: increasing effectiveness of basic service interventions through the use of best available evidence

The document introduces the "Evidence Barometer," a tool designed to measure and improve the use of best available evidence in policies and development projects, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It outlines the tool's development, which evaluates 10 evidence-based criteria such as stakeholder engagement, equity, and rigor of evaluation, with a maximum score of 27 points. The tool was piloted across 13 projects in health, environment, disability, and education, showing a measurable improvement in evidence use, with scores rising from 5-16 points by 2017. Challenges highlighted include; "evidence hesitancy," limited capacity, and funding constraints, while emphasizing the importance of capacity-building workshops and collaborations to promote the tool's adoption.