May 2008

Evaluation Gap Update | May 2008

In This Issue:

 

The International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) Has Arrived!

On May 16, the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation was formally incorporated as a non-profit entity. Its work program will be aimed at contributing to policy decisions that improve social and economic development programs in low- and middle-income countries - and it will do this by encouraging and funding the research, production and use of evidence from rigorous impact evaluations. This non-profit entity has been founded by a group of low- and middle-income governments, bilateral and multilateral agencies, foundations and major NGOs.

 

3ie Members Focus on Strategy and Make Financial Commitments

At a meeting hosted by CGD on May 5 - 6, representatives from 3ie's founding member institutions reviewed the organization's proposed governance structure, work plan, communications strategy and budget. With start-up funding of $8 million, 3ie will initiate its work. Additional significant financial commitments are expected from members during the coming year as 3ie establishes a home base and initiates support for evaluations. If you would like to explore the possibility of your organization becoming a member of 3ie, please contact Executive Director Howard White. A list of current members and activities can be found at 3ie's new website.

 

3ie's Executive Director Speaks at Prominent Evaluation Meetings

In the past month, Howard White has been the keynote speaker for an impact evaluation workshop hosted by the International Development Association (IDEAS) in Kuala Lumpur and the Global Environment Facility conference "Evaluating Climate Change and Development" in Alexandria. He also gave evidence on aid harmonization to the UK Parliamentary Select Committee on International Development and will speak at the NORAD-organized conference in Oslo, "Evaluating the Complex."

 

Help 3ie Identify Enduring Questions in Development

As it develops a policy-focused impact evaluation agenda, 3ie is inviting suggestions for enduring questions from all those with an interest in development. An enduring question is one which builds knowledge about what effect a program or policy will have to improve social and economic development in developing countries. You are invited to submit questions, which will be added to our list. Then, through a broad consultative process, the list of questions will be narrowed down to a shortlist. 3ie members with the assistance of expert panels will then select a final set of high priority enduring questions to be the object of 3ie grants.

 

Submit your own suggestions for enduring questions to 3ie Enduring Questions.

 

Additional Resources

  • The IDS Bulletin has published a special issue entitled "Impact Evaluation: the Experience of Official Agencies." The issue was brought together by NONIE, a network of networks for impact evaluation, to present the experiences of official agencies in promoting more rigorous approaches to impact evaluation. It includes specific impact evaluations of microfinance, education, and health, as well as papers addressing institutional initiatives, the impact of aid and methodological questions. The papers are also available as working papers at the World Bank website.
  • A recent issue of The Journal of Development Studies has three impact evaluations of microfinance programs in Bangladesh, Vietnam and Peru.
  • A recent IFPRI discussion paper, "Must Conditional Cash Transfer Programs Be Conditioned to Be Effective?" analyzes Mexico's PROGRESA/Oportunidades program and finds that the instruments for conditioning transfers does appear to be important in explaining the program's impact on increasing school enrollment.
  • The March issue of The Scientist magazine featured an article by Bob Grant, "Implementing Change," which focuses on the importance of evaluation in successful global health programs. The article highlights the work of CGD's Evaluation Gap Working Group, and includes interviews with public health practitioners and researchers discussing the tradeoffs and synergies between implementing programs and conducting impact evaluations of public health programs in the field.

 

Recent Blog Posts on Evaluation

  • The 3ie website features its own blog. Current questions for discussion are "What do people want from 3ie?" and "How can 3ie facilitate getting high quality proposals for impact studies from developing country institutions?" Until the website is completed, please send your contributions to this discussion by email to Alyaa Abdulkader.

 

If you have news or highlights to share in future mailings, please send them to Rena Pacheco-Theard.

 

You can sign up for the Evaluation Gap Update and other e-mail newsletters from the Center for Global Development by visiting our e-letter sign up page.

 

Thanks and regards,

 

Ruth Levine
Vice President for Programs and Operations
Center for Global Development