The AGRODEP training on Impact Evaluation and Analysis of Development Interventions was held on 29-31 October at the IFPRI Dakar office. The course was conducted by Dr. Tanguy Bernard of IFPRI.
The focus of the training was to provide participants with the tools and information needed to participate more fully in impact evaluation projects. In recent years, impact evaluations related to development interventions have increased significantly, with empirical studies based on robust comparisons of treatment and control groups receiving considerable financial support from the donor community. Despite this increased interest in impact evaluation studies, however, African researchers have thus far not played a leading role in the impact evaluation field. This three-day course was designed to bridge this gap through hands-on training on the theory, practice, and on-going debates surrounding the field of impact evaluation. The course covered basic theory such as selection biases and causality, as well as various approaches to impact evaluation such as experiment-based approaches, matching-based approaches, and randomized control trials. The course wrapped up with hands-on training on the design of an impact evaluation and the computing of an impact measure using Stata.
Six AGRODEP members participated in this course: Olumuyiwa Bamidele Alaba, Souleymane Sadio Diallo, Joy M. Kiiru, Donald Makoka, Nicodeme Nimenya, and Fatimata Dia Sow. The participants represent six countries and a wide range of experience and expertise. The training course was well-received by all participants; participant feedback will be very valuable in improving future training experiences of AGRODEP members.
Dr. Olumuyiwa Bamidele Alaba, Senior Lecturer at the Lead City University, lbadan, Nigeria, shared this feedback about his experience at the Impact Evaluation training course:
"Thanks to AGRODEP and its facilitators for providing this unique platform. The course on "Impact Evaluation and Analysis of Development Intervention" for me is an eye opener. It exposed me to new opportunity to apply the tool I know and apply regularly to an unfamilar application. I have always thought of other, now seemingly crude, methods as the best means of conducting impact evaluation of development interventions. Many Thanks to Bernard and Monica, and all that supported the process."
Learn more about this training course.