PRiME III courses and workshops

Learning objectives

• Build a theory of change and a logical framework for a project
• Write SMART indicators and set targets for them
• Write an M&E plan with its work plan and budget
• Choose quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods to collect data
• Report findings that decision-makers can use

How to take the course

1. You enrol in a fixed enrolment period.
2. All participants in a cohort start on the same day.
3. You study at your own pace, and you have up to three months to finish.
4. The course ends with a final assessment. You have 3 attempts.
5. A new cohort starts 3 months after the previous one ends.

Learning objectives

• Turn an evaluation question into the causal effect you need to estimate
• Choose an evaluation design that fits the theory of change, the way participants are selected and the data you have
• Design a randomized evaluation and read its results
• Use the main non-experimental designs: difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity, instrumental variables, matching and synthetic control
• Combine impact results with cost analysis to support decisions on scale-up
• Report results in plain language, with their uncertainty

Content

Each module includes video lessons, a workbook chapter, guided walkthroughs in R and exercises.

1. Introduction to impact evaluation · What impact evaluation is for, the counterfactual problem, and how a theory of change leads to an evaluation design.
2. Quantitative foundations · Sampling, uncertainty, hypothesis tests, statistical power and regression.
3. Data management, quality and reproducibility · Data protection and consent, data cleaning and quality checks, and analysis files that someone else can run again.
4. Experimental evaluations · Random assignment, balance checks, partial take-up and sample size.
5. Non-experimental evaluations · Difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity, instrumental variables, matching and synthetic control.
6. Analysis and reporting · Analysis plans, robustness checks and reports that decision-makers can use.
7. Cost analysis techniques · Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis, to show if a programme was worth its cost.
8. Case studies · Complete evaluations of rural interventions, from the question to the design and the diagnostics.

Who can take part

Selected professionals from IFAD-financed projects. Exact dates, locations and selection criteria to be announced.

If you work on an IFAD-financed project, complete Fundamentals first.