At the Mind the Gap conference in Cuernavaca, Mexico, the main theme was how to affect policy with hard evidence. Some would argue that this is the essence of why we evaluate programs. We want to know what works and why so we can improve upon what we have, replicate what works or move away from what does not. Although it seems reasonable, policy-making is about politics … [Read more...] about Policy, politics and evidence: why does it matter?
Beyond development effectiveness
Mind the Gap: from evidence to policy impact
More than 400 policy makers, experts, evaluators and academics met in Cuernavaca in the Conference: MIND THE GAP: FROM EVIDENCE TO POLICY IMPACT. … [Read more...] about Mind the Gap: from evidence to policy impact
Closing the gap between policy making and evidence
Mind the gap, Mind the gap … is a warning that the London Underground introduced in 1969 for passengers to be cautious of the gap between straight train cars and curved platforms. The gap between policy (where we want to go) and evidence (does it take us there?) can also be perilous. … [Read more...] about Closing the gap between policy making and evidence
Corruption and waste: one example and four lessons
A few days ago UNICEF publicized for the first time the prices it pays for vaccines for kids in poor countries. It revealed that western drug companies charge $1 more than Indian companies. UNICEF buys over two billion doses a year. It is clear that this kind of information sharing by publicizing prices in the public sector has a huge impact. A recent article on waste and … [Read more...] about Corruption and waste: one example and four lessons
Bowling in the dark
It was eye opening to watch a recent lecture in the TED series by Melinda French Gates on the lessons that emerge from the incredible success of Coca-Cola. You can buy a Coke anywhere in the world, from Tamalameque in Colombia to Katine in Uganda, where it is easier to get a Coke than getting a basic medicine. Ms. French-Gates explains that there are three reasons behind this … [Read more...] about Bowling in the dark