This guide is for policy and program staff and managers involved in designing and implementing pilot programs. Pilot programs help policymakers test new approaches to improve outcomes for program participants. There are step-by-step instructions for each stage, including advice on how evaluation findings can be used while you run the pilot and after it finishes. 

Pilot programs are not established programs. They aim to test and learn about a particular approach in a particular situation. This helps to decide whether to invest more resources. This guide suggests focus areas and key evaluation questions and methods. 

Pilot evaluation focuses on:

• understanding implementation
• finding evidence of promise
• testing feasibility
• deciding whether to scale the program.