Why is impact evaluation a useful tool for policymakers and development experts? How is an impact evaluation designed and when is the best time in a program’s lifecycle to start one? In Kathmandu, more than 50 people from government, academia and non-governmental organizations attended a four-day workshop on how to use impact evaluation for better policymaking and program design. Participants, most of whom came from the fields of education, health, and early childhood development, had the opportunity to design their own impact evaluation around a real or expected program, giving them a hands-on feel for what it takes to use impact evaluation successfully. The workshop was organized by the World Bank’s Strategic Impact Evaluation Fund, with support from the Word Bank’s Nepal country office and the Government of Nepal. Full agenda is available .
“People think of research as a luxury, but it’s not,” said Dr. Tulasi Prasad Thapaliya, Joint Secretary in the Nepal Ministry of Education and a participant in the workshop. “Impact evaluation will provide you with evidence of which of the policy options will deliver the results you are planning or looking for, so it’s not a luxury.”
"I’ve learned that this is an excellent way to really monitor changes that we aim to bring in livelihood of the people affected by large infrastructure projects through a range of benefit sharing activities," said Prem Khanal, communications consultant with the Investment Board of Nepal and a workshop participant.