About this course
Advanced evaluation methods for practitioners who already run M&E systems. Delegates study impact evaluation and counterfactual thinking, randomised and quasi-experimental designs such as difference-in-differences and matching, theory-based approaches including contribution analysis, mixed methods, sampling and statistical power, evaluation ethics, and how to manage and quality-assure commissioned evaluations.
Why this course
Funders, treasuries and oversight bodies increasingly ask not only what a project did but whether it caused the change observed. Practitioners who can choose and apply suitable evaluation designs produce findings that withstand scrutiny, and help their organisations decide which interventions to scale up, redesign or stop.
What delegates will be able to do
By the end of the course, delegates will be able to
- Select an evaluation design suited to the question, budget and available data
- Apply difference-in-differences and matching logic to estimate programme effects
- Use contribution analysis where a counterfactual comparison is not feasible
- Calculate sample sizes with attention to statistical power
- Draft terms of reference and quality criteria for a commissioned evaluation
Who should attend
Senior M&E officers, M&E managers, evaluators and research staff in government, utilities, development agencies and NGOs with at least two years of M&E experience. Delegates should be comfortable with indicators, logframes and basic statistics.
How it is delivered
Facilitator-led sessions with evaluation case studies, design exercises in small groups and practical calculations in Excel using sample datasets. It is available as a public course, in-house at your premises, or as live virtual sessions. Duration and dates are confirmed in your quote, and in-house groups can have the examples and exercises fitted to their organisation.