Impact Evaluation in Developing Countries

Catalog description

Significant resources are regularly dedicated to programs and policies aimed at improving the well-being of the world's poor. With what degree of confidence can observed changes in an outcome be attributed to a given intervention, program or policy? What are the characteristics of evaluation designs, quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, and analyses that allow plausible cause and effect attributions to be made? The purpose of the class in impact evaluation is to explore how questions of this kind are framed and empirically investigated. Students will learn about impact evaluation by examining evaluation designs and causal modeling techniques and by performing fundamental evaluation tasks. As an application activity, the class will work directly with individuals in agencies who administer and evaluate programs in developing countries.