NOV 30^th –DEC 9^th, 2015

INSTITUTE OF RURAL MANAGEMENT ANAND (I R M A)

Building Capacity in Impact Assessment of Development Programs & CSR Initiatives

Registration Deadline: 25^th November, 2015

Introduction

Development programs, CSR initiatives & policies are typically designed to change outcomes, for example, raise incomes, empower women, improve learning, or reduce illness. Whether or not these changes are actually achieved, is a crucial indicator of program effectiveness, but one that has not been often examined.

The fundamental challenge for program evaluation is to establish a causal link between in terventions & outcomes. The primary objective of the training program is twofold:  (A) Introduce participants to several quasi-experimental techniques as well as qualitative methodologies and (B) Develop their research and consulting skills while using these methods.

Intended Audience

The training program has been designed primarily for development practitioners & CSR professionals who are engaged in research & consulting activities. Research scholars, doctoral students & academicians would also find the program useful in enhancing their research skills.

Pedagogy

Classroom based lectures will be combined with workshop-mode group presentations and in-depth analysis of quantitative and qualitative research tools. The instructors would bring  in datasets and observation from  recently concluded and ongoing impact evaluation studies for better understanding of research tools. The workshop will comprise of several lab sessions to provide hands-on experience of working with real-life data sets using the statistical software Stata 14. Participants will be provided full access to the software during the course of the training program.

Program Fee

INR 40,000 + service tax (Training + Hostel Room + Meals & Refreshments)

This fee will be INR 60,000 + service tax for executive accommodation 

Payment Mode

Mode 1: Demand draft / Multi-City Cheque in favor of the Institute of Rural Management Anand, payable at Anand

Mode 2: Net Banking

A/c Holder’s Name: Institute of Rural Management Anand

ICICI Savings A/c No: 008501012659

Bank Address: Flavours, Near Bhaikaka Statue, Mota Bazar, Vallabh Vidyanagar 388 120, Gujarat, India

Swift Code: ICICINBBCTS IFSC/RTGS/NEFT Code: ICIC0000085

MICR Code: 388 229 002 Branch Code: 0085

Funding

IRMA would provide 5 competitive scholarships to NGO participants. The scholarship will cover 50% of the program fee. Interested applicants may send their CVs at mdp@irma.ac.in . Deadline for scholarship application is 18^th Nov, 2015. Decisions will be communicated by email to selected participants on 20^th Nov, 2015.

Pre-Requisites: The program does not require prior knowledge of statistics, nonetheless past exposure to mathematics and/or statistics at 10+2 education level would help in easier comprehension of the material. Please go through the program outline to gauge its utility for yourself.

Program Outline

I.        Quantitative Research Methodology

Research Design, Distributions & Inferential Statistics, Ordinary Least Squares, Multiple Regression, Dummy Variable Model, Functional Forms, Panel Data Models, Qualitative Response Models

II.        Qualitative:

Methods of Impact Evaluation

Process Evaluation, Outcome Mapping, Contribution Analysis, Qualitative Comparative Analysis, Most Significant Change Method, Success Case Method

III.        Handling Econometric Software

Database Management and Quantitative Modeling Using Stata 14.0

IV.         Field Work

Participatory Rural Appraisal of an ongoing development initiative in a village (field work component)

V.        Quantitative Impact Evaluation Techniques

RCTs, Propensity Score Matching Technique, D-I-D modeling, & Instrumental Variable Model