View all text of Chapter 38 [§ 2651 - § 2739]
§ 2732b. Improving research and evaluation of public diplomacy
(a) Research and evaluation activitiesThe Secretary, acting through the Director of Research and Evaluation appointed pursuant to subsection (b), shall—
(1) conduct regular research and evaluation of public diplomacy programs and activities of the Department, including through the routine use of audience research, digital analytics, and impact evaluations, to plan and execute such programs and activities; and
(2) make available to Congress the findings of the research and evaluations conducted under paragraph (1).
(b) Director of Research and Evaluation
(1) Appointment
(2) Limitation on appointment
(3) ResponsibilitiesThe Director shall—
(A) coordinate and oversee the research and evaluation of public diplomacy programs and activities of the Department in order to—
(i) improve public diplomacy strategies and tactics; and
(ii) ensure that such programs and activities are increasing the knowledge, understanding, and trust of the United States by relevant target audiences;
(B) routinely organize and oversee audience research, digital analytics, and impact evaluations across all public diplomacy bureaus and offices of the Department;
(C) support United States diplomatic posts’ public affairs sections;
(D) share appropriate public diplomacy research and evaluation information within the Department and with other appropriate Federal departments and agencies;
(E) regularly design and coordinate standardized research questions, methodologies, and procedures to ensure that public diplomacy programs and activities across all public diplomacy bureaus and offices are designed to meet appropriate foreign policy objectives; and
(F) report biannually to the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, through the Subcommittee on Research and Evaluation established pursuant to subsection (f), regarding the research and evaluation of all public diplomacy bureaus and offices.
(4) Guidance and training
(c) Prioritizing research and evaluation
(1) In general
(2) Allocation of resources
(3) Sense of Congress
(d) Limited exemption relating to the Paperwork Reduction ActChapter 35 of title 44 (commonly known as the “Paperwork Reduction Act”) shall not apply to the collection of information directed at any individuals conducted by, or on behalf of, the Department of State for the purpose of audience research, monitoring, and evaluations, and in connection with the Department’s activities conducted pursuant to any of the following:
(1) The Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.).
(2) Section 1287 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 22 U.S.C. 2656 note).
(3) The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.).
(e) Limited exemption relating to the Privacy Act
(1) In general
(2) ConditionsAudience research, digital analytics, and impact evaluations under paragraph (1) shall be—
(A) reasonably tailored to meet the purposes of this subsection; and
(B) carried out with due regard for privacy and civil liberties guidance and oversight.
(f) United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy
(1) Subcommittee for research and evaluation
(2) Annual report
(Pub. L. 117–81, div. E, title LVI, § 5603, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2377.)