It was not a surprise, but certainly an encouraging confirmation: the use of rigorous impact evaluation methodologies has spread beyond social sectors. I just participated in the conference “Mind the Gap: From Evidence to Policy Impact” and I was glad to see that 8 out 38 parallel sessions were devoted to discussing impact evaluations of programs and projects aimed at … [Read more...] about Beyond social sectors: “Productive” Impact Evaluations
Policy, politics and impact evaluation
At the closing session of the Mind the Gap: From Evidence to Policy Impact conference that took place on June 17th, the Chilean Planning Minister Felipe Kast made some interesting points about how to persuade politicians to embrace evaluations. His perspective is interesting as until last year he was an academic engaged in impact evaluations, and today he is one of the … [Read more...] about Policy, politics and impact evaluation
Three views on the impact of urban development projects
The panel on “the challenges of urban development” in the Mind the Gap Conference that took place in Cuernavaca June 15-17 included presentations by Marco Gonzalez from the University of Toronto, Jerushah Rangasami from Impact Consulting and Juan Vargas from the Universidad del Rosario in Colombia. Sebastian Martinez from the IDB moderated. … [Read more...] about Three views on the impact of urban development projects
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
Just half an inch, but a lot of impact
When the Oportunidades program began in Mexico in 1998―under the name Progresa―few could have imagined what this initiative would mean 10 years later, not only for the country, but for development theory and practice. This pioneer in conditional cash transfers incorporated an innovative impact assessment methodology that has become not only an example of development … [Read more...] about Just half an inch, but a lot of impact