Just a few years ago, evaluation in Spain felt like a niche concern—important, yes, but far from mainstream. When Law 27/2022 was passed, creating a legal framework for public policy evaluation, it seemed like a pivotal step forward (at the time, Cristina Cribillers and I documented the cautious milestone in this very space). Three years on, that step looks more like the start of a sprint. Across 2024 and 2025, Spain has moved from scattered initiatives to a vibrant ecosystem where evaluation is not only institutionalised but increasingly visible, resourced, and connected.
This blog post explores how transformation is unfolding: from legal frameworks to institutional muscle, through milestones that signal a sector coming of age, and toward the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
From legislative scaffolding to institutional muscle
The story begins with the law. Legal frameworks matter, but they only come alive when institutions take ownership. That is exactly what happened with the creation of the Instituto para la Evaluación de Políticas Públicas (IEPP), embedded in the Ministry of Economy. Its mission is clear: evaluate policies, spread an evaluative culture, and make methods accessible across government.
Alongside IEPP, Spain’s independent fiscal authority (AIReF) has been quietly shaping the landscape for over a decade. AIReF (Independent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility) is Spain’s independent body that monitors fiscal sustainability and evaluates public spending to ensure transparency and efficiency in government finances. By monitoring fiscal sustainability and evaluating public spending, AIReF has normalised evidence-based governance in the country’s financial decisions.
At the regional and local level, Spanish administrations have begun to cohere evaluation efforts via REDEVAL, Red Española de Evaluación de Políticas Públicas, constituted in April 2025 under Andalusia’s leadership and bringing together the central government, multiple autonomous communities, and local entities to share practices, build capacity, and coordinate norms and pilots. Minutes and press notes confirm the breadth of participation (with at least 9 Spanish regions in attendance) and a programme of joint work through late 2025.
Together, these bodies mark a shift from legislative intent to operational reality.
A sector finds its voice: Valencia and beyond
If institutions are the backbone, professional communities are the heartbeat. That pulse was strong in Valencia earlier this year, where the Sociedad Española de Evaluación (SEE) hosted its biennial conference, which can be replayed. The event blended international dialogue with practitioner-led sessions and showcased themes that define the future: artificial intelligence in evaluation, cutting-edge methods, and Spain’s evolving institutional map, signalling a sector that now combines technical ambition with public visibility.
The associative sphere has also matured, and Valencia was also the stage for two important launches. The first was the Observatorio de Evaluación de Políticas Públicas (OEPP), a civil-society initiative designed to analyse evaluations, curate resources, and promote transparency. The second was JPEVAL Spain’s first diamond open-access journal dedicated to policy evaluation. Its inaugural issue spans topics from digitalisation and gender-sensitive childcare policy to the promise—and limits—of AI in evaluation practice. These developments signal a sector that is not only growing but also investing in knowledge and visibility.
Academia also steps in and steps up building skills for the future
No ecosystem thrives without talent. Spanish universities are stepping in to fill that gap. The Universidad Complutense de Madrid, host to one of the few graduate education programs, closed the year with a seminar on the new evaluative space, highlighting alliances between government, industry, and academia. Meanwhile, Navarra launched a new Plan Director de Evaluación (2024–2027) alongside a new postgraduate degree for practitioners. The first cohort began classes in November 2025, reinforcing Navarra’s reputation as a pioneer in systematic evaluative governance.
New networks: a broadening associative canvas
In parallel, and in addition to new public institutions at the national and regional level, the sector continues to morph in the private and associative space. Besides the Sociedad Espanola de Evaluacion SEE (dating back to 2001), the long-standing national association, focused on advocacy, capacity building, and connecting Spain to global evaluation networks, there is APROEVAL (2023), more practitioner-driven and Iberian in reach, emphasizing hands-on exchange, professional development, and collaboration with academic programs. Notably each of these has ties to the main two universities offering graduate education on evaluation. Additionally, 2023 also saw the launch of REDEV partnership to promote good practices in evaluation across public and private sectors, with an explicit aim of improving design, monitoring, and impact assessment through common protocols and data-driven analysis.
Besides public and private sector associations, there are also geographical networks (both regional and international also present in the Spanish ecosystem, most notably ReLAC and RIEPP with ties to Latin America) and also demographic groups, such as Evalyouth Spain which saw its launch in 2023 (following less prosperous attempts co-led by yours truly) giving younger and emerging evaluators a route into the profession’s debates and projects.
Spain’s associative landscape is expanding rapidly, and the associative fabric remains rich. Diversity is doubtlessly a real strength. It brings fresh ideas, new partnerships, and room for innovation. To make the most of this momentum, the next step is building stronger connections—shared standards, common advocacy, and a unified voice. With collaboration, this vibrant network can amplify its influence and turn variety into collective impact.
A roadmap for the governance of the future
Amid this national momentum, an important intellectual milestone has also appeared: the publication of a major new reference work on evaluation in Spanish. Conceived as a foundational guide rather than a conventional monograph, this volume aims to become essential reading for consultants, academics, and public managers. It is built on a conviction increasingly shared across the ecosystem: evaluation is not bureaucracy—it is a tool for learning, institutional improvement, and democratic health. In a context of rapid change, Spain cannot afford to navigate by intuition alone. Evidence must be the compass. The book forms part of a broader push to strengthen social impact in universities and public institutions. Its purpose is clear: equip practitioners, managers, and policymakers with the tools to build a public administration that is more effective, more transparent, and more useful to society. For anyone who believes evaluation is a lever for change, it is a highly recommended read.
So, where is this leading to?
Looked at together, these developments show a sector still nascent but decisively mobilised, and a progress from isolated initiatives to a recognisable ecosystem. The new year starts with a legal backbone, a central institute, intergovernmental networks, a practitioner observatory, an academic journal, and universities training new cohorts. Yet two truths stand out.
First, plurality fuels innovation, but dispersion can erode impact. Spain needs connective tissue—shared standards, ethics, and advocacy—to turn many voices into one strong chorus. Second, evaluation is bigger than public policy. It strengthens design and learning across social programs, education, health, and even private-sector impact. Spain’s current wave, focused on public policy, should reach these arenas to expand demand and sharpen methods.
Where do we go from here?
The path forward is not about choosing between diversity and coherence—it’s about combining them. Spain needs a hybrid approach: keep innovation alive through specialised groups and regional pilots, while building an umbrella that consolidates standards and amplifies the sector’s voice. The building blocks are already in place: IEPP and REDEVAL in public architecture, OEPP in civil society, SEE and APROEVAL in professional perspectives and JPEVAL in scholarly infrastructure. The next step is to assemble them into a pattern that makes sense.
Spain has the pieces. Now it needs the design. Many voices spark ideas—but one chorus moves the system. Let’s keep building it.
Author’s bio:
Maria Pomes‑Jimenez is an international evaluation and human development specialist with over two decades of experience leading mixed‑methods evaluations for UN agencies, multilateral institutions and global foundations. She is a longstanding consultant to the World Bank and brings deep expertise in education, child rights, early childhood development, youth participation and faith-based interventions. As the Founder and Managing Director of Public Policy Studio, she partners with global teams to harness the strength of research, evaluation and strategy to generate rigorous evidence to inform equitable, human‑centred policy and strategy decisions to build a world where everyone can reach their full potential.