Training Course on Impact Evaluation for Evidence-Based Development

Course Overview

The Impact Evaluation for Evidence-Based Development Training Course aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to design, implement, and assess the impact of development programs. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of impact evaluation methodologies, tools, and techniques, enabling them to make evidence-based decisions that contribute to the success and effectiveness of development initiatives.

Course Objectives

By the end of the training, the participants will:

• Acquire knowledge of impact evaluation theories and methodologies.
• Explore challenges related to attribution, selection, and placement biases in evaluation problems.
• Gain insight into various impact evaluation designs, including randomized, quasi, and non-experimental approaches.
• Develop the skills to perform a rigorous impact evaluation of a project.
• Learn and apply techniques for sampling and power calculation in impact evaluation.
• Practice econometric techniques for analyzing the impact of interventions.
• Execute impact data analysis using methods such as Propensity Matching and Difference-in-Difference.
• Effectively report and disseminate findings from impact evaluations.

Course Duration: 5 days

Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to Impact Evaluation 

• Definition and importance of impact evaluation in development
• Impact evaluation attribution
• Attribution versus contribution

Module 2: Determining points of Impact Evaluation

• Forms of evaluation
• Theories of Change
• Hypothesis of evaluation
• Indicators of impact evaluation
• The results chain

Module 3: Impact Evaluation Counterfactuals

• Causal reference
• Counterfactuals and comparison groups
• Counterfactual estimation in impact evaluation
• Impact Evaluation without comparison and baseline data

Module 4: Impact Evaluation Research Designs

• Experimental Design- Randomized Control Trials
• Quasi experimental designs
• Difference-in-Difference
• Regression Discontinuity
• Matching
• Non-experimental designs

Module 5: Impact Evaluation Sampling

• Impact Evaluation sampling techniques
• Calculation of sample size
• Sampling weight
• Statistical power
• Development of comparison groups

Module 6: Impact Evaluation Quantitative Data Analysis

• Randomized Impact Evaluation
• Developing counterfactual
• Randomization
• Program Placement impacts
• Program Participation impacts
• Integrating Program Placement and Participation
• Spillover Effects Measurements
• Propensity Score Matching Technique (PSM)
• Introduction to PSM
• Application of  PSM in Impact Evaluation
• Developing propensity scores
• Matching Analysis (Nearest-Neighbour, Stratification, Radius, Kernel )
• Doubly Robust Estimation

Module 7: Difference in Difference Method

• Introduction to DID
• Application of DID in Impact Evaluation
• DID estimator: (Single DID, DID with covariates, Quantile DID)
• DID for Cross-Sectional Data
• Balancing Tests
• Diff-in-Diff with Propensity Score Matching

Module 8: Qualitative Approaches in Impact Evaluation

• Significant Change
• Outcome Mapping
• Outcome Harvesting
• Appreciative Inquiry

Module 9: Impact Evaluation Findings Development and Dissemination

• Impact Evaluation Plan
• Impact Evaluation Reports: Baseline report, Impact Evaluation Reports
• Case studies

Note: This outline provides a general structure for the training. The specific content, activities, and duration of each session may be adjusted based on the target audience, learning objectives, and available time.