The COVID-19 pandemic created a once-in-a-generation focus on evidence. We now have the opportunity to systematize the aspects of evidence use that are going well and to address the many gaps. Alongside the upcoming 75th World Health Assembly, Cochrane and the Global Commission on Evidence to Address Societal Challenges co-organized a virtual side event which brought together a global panel to discuss some of these issues. The event was chaired by the World Health Organization’s Chief Scientist.