Introduction to Impact Evaluation of Policies and Programmes

Course Description:

In this course you will learn how to conduct a rigorous impact evaluation of a development policy, program or intervention. The course aims to enable participants to understand how to quantify the causal effect of interventions by carefully understanding attribution and the practical applications of methodologies. The course takes you through several steps of conceptualising an evaluation, understanding the pathways of change, understanding the different methodologies for conducting impact evaluation and choosing the most appropriate methodology given the set of circumstances. You will be introduced to the quantitative techniques of impact evaluation and learn about their weaknesses and strengths and appropriateness to real life evaluation scenarios. 

The course will offer online lectures, online discussion boards, assignments, weekly tutorial meetings to discuss readings and assignments, and an oral exam at the end of the course. 

Key Concepts:

• Theory of change
• Understanding the counterfactual
• Choosing an impact evaluation design and how to execute

Learning Goals:

• Having knowledge of:
  • The pathways of change underlying the causal relationship
    (linking the intervention to the outcomes)
  • Randomised designs and quasi-experimental designs
  • Software code that can be applied in analysis

• Understanding:
  • How to formulate evaluation questions
  • How to choose a good comparison group that approximates the counterfactual given real-life scenarios
  • The strengths and weaknesses of each methodology and when to choose each methodology

Prerequisites:

A Master degree (or equivalent) in Social Sciences.

**Please note that the course is an introduction to impact evaluations. It contains materials on when to do an impact evaluation, what is allows you to conclude, and what forms of evaluation exist. It does not include materials or exercises in which you will do an impact evaluation yourself. The online course “Impact Evaluation of Policies and Programs Estimation and Analysis of Causal Impacts” is designed as follow up of this course and does offer exercises in how to do an econometric impact evaluation.

Course completion and estimated workload: 

The course is completed once you fulfill the course requirements and pass the assignments and oral exam. Your coursebook will also include the explanation of resit options.  

The estimated workload is 60 hours, including 10-15 hours per week and 10-15 hours per assignments/oral exam. 

ECTS equivalence: 2 

Participants will receive 2 ECTS equivalence credits and the certification will be offered through an online educational badge. 

Cost:

Group based participation: 500 euro 
Individual participation: 600 euro 

Duration: 10 weeks 

Upon registration, you will be enrolled for 10 weeks, including 1 week to access the platform and become familiar with the materials, 4 weeks of coursework, 1 week to submit the final assignment and 2 weeks for potential resit time. 

In case you prefer to use the 10 weeks in a different way, please agree with your tutor during your first exchange (only for Individual participation). 

Starting date and enrolment: 

Upon a successful enrollment, every participant will start the course on immediately after the acquisition of the course materials. Your tutor will reach out to you to agree on a timeline. 

For group participation, please note that we will close the group registrations at 10 participants, based on first paid first serve rule. We will identify the full groups on the application website. 

For individual participation, please agree with your tutor on your preferred schedule during your first exchange. 

Registration:  

You can register for the certificate programme via the application form by clicking on the “Apply Now” button on the right side of this page.  

Payment: 

To pay the tuition fee, please make the transfer to the following account. Upon payment, you will be registered as a student and contacted by your tutor. Please note that we need to receive the payment by the application deadline. On average, it takes 1-2 weeks between your transfer of funds and us receiving it. 

Download the coursebook

Required Readings:

The cost of the course does not include expenses for books or hardcopies of the course material. Course materials can all be downloaded by the participant him/herself.