About the workshop
Given the demands that are made on policy-makers and public service providers from a multitude of sources and constituencies, and the finite resources that are available to meet these demands, it is important to know ahead of time which policy or practice initiatives can make the greatest difference and yield the maximum benefit for the greatest number of people.
Impact assessment and evaluation also has an important role to play in responding to emergency situations such as earthquakes, hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic. In such situations decision makers can draw upon existing evidence of effectiveness from impact assessments and evaluation and use their critical appraisal skills to make sound judgements about emerging data and analysis.
The aim of this workshop is to help policy-makers and public service practitioners learn how to assess the impact of policy and practice initiatives before they are started, and how to respond to emerging evidence after policy roll-out and in emergency situations.
What the workshop will cover
• Different meanings of ‘impact’ in policy-making and evaluation and how to differentiate between impact evaluation and impact assessment
• What to assess in terms of the social, economic and environmental impacts of a policy, programme or project
• How to establish policy options and decide on the best course of action that will deliver the required outcomes
• How to use quantitative and qualitative methods to understand how impacts can be achieved
• How to find and appraise existing evidence
• How to prioritise different impacts
• How to apply impact assessment to performance- managed delivery
• The principles and methods of cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis
• How to draw upon impact evaluations and assessments from developed and developing countries.
How participants will benefit
The workshop will enable you to:
• Improve the planning, procurement and management of impact evaluations and assessments
• Use methods of impact evaluation to identify the most effective, efficient and value for money policy initiatives
• Develop and use monitoring techniques effectively
• Undertake delivery reviews and develop action plans where impacts are not being achieved
• Improve the accountability of policy-making and public services in your locality, region or country.