The Evaluation Task Force (ETF) is pleased to announce Phase 5 of its Evaluation Accelerator Fund (EAF). The EAF is a competitive grant fund and supports research and evaluation projects that:

• create actionable evidence in HM Government priority areas that informs public spending or policy decisions;

• tackle evidence gaps in HM Government priority areas; or

• provide robust evidence of financial or efficiency savings from new policies, interventions, or innovative approaches to service delivery

EAF is open to receive proposals from: 

• Central government (e.g. UK Government departments, arms length bodies, and non-departmental public bodies)

• Local government (e.g. Local authorities, regional authorities, MCAs, etc) 

• What Works Centres (WWCs)

• Charities or organisations whose activities are charitable, benevolent or philanthropic in nature (e.g. universities, non-profits, community interest companies)

Funding is available for one-year projects which start in July 2026 and conclude by March 2027. All projects, with only a handful of exceptions, will be expected to produce findings that are shareable with the ETF and government partners by March 2027. It is acceptable if publication of findings follows soon after March 2027.

Phase 5 of EAF has an overall value of up to £3.5 million for FY26-27. This is split into two distinct strands:

1. A minimum of £1 million available for projects designed to improve the evidence base around Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). 

2. A maximum of £2.5 million available for projects related to artificial intelligence, local government and other government priorities. 

It is important to note that each strand has separate application guidance and forms.

EAF 5 Violence Against Women and Girls - open competition

The aim of the VAWG-specific fund is to create actionable evidence or build evidence and evaluation capability to support HM Government’s VAWG strategy and mission to halve VAWG by 2030. 

We are open to proposals that align with priorities outlined in the HM Government VAWG Strategy [see here] and action plan [see here] with a preference for proposals focussed on:

• Online harms;

• Early intervention / children and young people;

• Prevention; and

• Tackling sexual violence.

We are particularly interested in funding the following types of proposals, which will be favourably scored:

• Partnerships between organisations to build a stronger evidence and evaluation infrastructure or evaluation capability across the VAWG sector.

• Partnerships between charities/frontline services and universities/research organisations. 

• Research or evaluations that will directly support HM Government’s commitment to halving VAWG. 

In general, we are open to proposals to deliver impact evaluations, and we have a preference for funding experimental or quasi-experimental evaluations. However, given the short funding window, we are also open to bids for other types of research and evaluation such as: 

• feasibility studies;

• systematic evidence reviews;

• developing outcomes frameworks; and 

• capability building on evidence generation and/or use within organisations. 

We will consider funding proposals for longer-term pieces of work that do not produce findings by March 2027 as long as there is confirmed matched funding that can fund proposed activities beyond FY26-27. These proposals must demonstrate evidence of this matched funding commitment.

EAF 5 General strand - open competition

The second strand of the EAF fund aims to strengthen the evidence base for wider government priorities, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence and local government.

We are interested in funding proposals in the following areas:

• Technology: Proposals that aim to improve the ability of the public sector to use or generate robust evidence about Artificial Intelligence and digital innovation, including evaluation of AI and digital policies/programmes. 

• Local government: Proposals that aim to improve the ability of local government, including Mayoral Strategic Authorities, to use or generate robust evidence and evaluation.

• Other government priorities: Proposals that aim to improve the evidence-base in relation to other government priorities, including:  

• Kickstart economic growth

• Build an NHS fit for the future

• Safer streets

• Break down the barriers to opportunity

• Make Britain a clean energy superpower

We are open to funding different types of projects within these areas, including impact evaluations, feasibility studies, evidence reviews, development of outcomes frameworks, value-for-money assessments, development of data infrastructure, and implementation research. 

To learn more

The ETF will hold drop-in information sessions for prospective applicants. These sessions will give attendees the opportunity to ask questions about the fund and their project’s potential eligibility. The EAF information sessions will take place on:

• 3 June, 12:00 - 13:00 

• 4 June 16:00 - 17:00 

• 10 June 15:00 - 16:00 

• 11 June 15:00 - 16:00 

Book your place on an information session via Eventbrite.

How to bid

Proposals must be submitted to to eaf@cabinetoffice.gov.uk by 28 June (6:00 pm). Your submission must consist of a proposal template (Word document) and financial case template (Excel document). Please ensure that you use the correct templates for the strand of funding you are applying for (i.e. VAWG or general). These templates are provided on the ETF website.

For the general strand of funding, please also include any relevant endorsements or letters of support from local partners or frontline decision makers – these are optional but welcome.

Please refer to the EAF Phase 5 Guidance documents for additional information.