Introducing the Evidence and Equity Collaborative

In the fall of 2020, the chief executive officers of nine leading policy research organizations met to discuss the critical importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the field of public policy research and in their individual workplaces. The result is the Evidence and Equity Collaborative. The first collaboration of its kind within the policy research field, the Evidence and Equity Collaborative brings together market leaders Abt Associates, the American Institutes for Research (AIR), Mathematica, MDRC, NORC, the RAND Corporation, RTI International, the Urban Institute, and Westat for an initiative outside their usual roles as business competitors.

As members of the Evidence and Equity Collaborative, these nine organizations representing more than 20,000 employees, are joining forces to support diversity in their workplaces, strengthen inclusive practices in policy research, and build a foundation for equitable analysis ready to inform policymaking across the nation.

The Evidence and Equity Collaborative’s agenda will include a range of opportunities for members to learn from each other and from broader communities. Plans include facilitating DEI dialogue within member organizations and among those who fund, develop, and implement policies and programs; meeting with communities affected by those policies and programs; contributing to the development of research best practices informed by DEI principles; and creating opportunities for aspiring researchers from underrepresented groups.

At Abt, equity is the cornerstone of our strategy, and our commitment to using an equity-centered approach allows us to deliver on our mission to improve the quality of life and economic well-being of people worldwide. We are thrilled to honor that commitment through our participation in the Evidence & Equity Collaborative. By collaborating with other research organizations, we are better positioned to address inequities both in the conduct of research and within our respective organizations. I am proud to stand with the CEOs of other member organizations in the pursuit of greater equity and social justice in the research and consulting field.

- Kathleen Flanagan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Abt Associates

As a unique effort with a deeply held purpose, the Evidence and Equity Collaborative is set to accelerate progress within the field of program and policy research, while putting the power of its deep bench of expertise into advancing transformational change.

Related: Embedding an Equity Focus in Evaluation at Abt

Media Contact:

Lindsey Freeze
919-294-7703
All_editorial@abtassoc.com