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Title Impact evaluation in practice / Paul J. Gertler, Sebastian Martinez, Patrick Premand, Laura B. Rawlings, Christel M.J. Vermeersch
Published Washington, D.C. : World Bank, ©2011

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Description 1 online resource (xvi, 244 pages) : illustrations
Series World Bank e-Library.
Contents pt. 1. Introduction to impact evaluation -- pt. 2. How to evaluate -- pt. 3. How to implement and impact evaluation
Summary This book offers an accessible introduction to the topic of impact evaluation and its practice in development. While the book is geared principally towards development practitioners and policymakers designing prospective impact evaluations, we trust that it will be a valuable resource for students and others interested in using impact evaluation. Prospective impact evaluations should be used selectively to assess whether or not a program has achieved its intended results, or to test alternatives for achieving those results. We consider that more and better impact evaluation will help strengthen the evidence base for development policies and programs around the world. If governments and development practitioners can make policy decisions based on evidence - including evidence generated through impact evaluation - our hope is that development resources will be spent more effectively, and ultimately have a greater impact on reducing poverty and improving people's lives. The three chapters in this handbook provide a non-technical introduction to impact evaluations, including Why Evaluate? in Chapter 1, How to Evaluate in Chapter 2 and How to Implement Impact Evaluations in Chapter 3. These elements are the basic tools needed in order to successfully carry out an impact evaluation. From a methodological standpoint our approach to impact evaluation is largely pragmatic: we think that the most appropriate methods should be identified to fit the operational context, and not the other way around. This is best achieved at the outset of the program, through the design of prospective impact evaluation that can be built into the project's implementation. We argue that gaining consensus between key stakeholders and identifying an evaluation design that fits the political and operational context is as important as the method itself. We also believe strongly that impact evaluations should be upfront about their limitations and caveats. Finally, we strongly encourage policymakers and program managers to consider impact evaluations in a logical framework that clearly sets out the causal pathways by which the program works to produce outputs and influence final outcomes, and to combine impact evaluations with monitoring and selected complementary evaluation approach to gain a full picture of performance. This book builds on a core set of teaching materials developed for the Turning Promises to Evidence workshops organized by the office of the Chief Economist for Human Development (HDNCE) in partnership with regional units and the Development Economics Research Group (DECRG) at the World Bank.-- Publisher description
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Notes English
Subject Economic development projects -- Evaluation.
Evaluation research (Social action programs)
POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Public Policy -- Economic Policy.
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS -- Government & Business.
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS -- Development -- Economic Development.
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS -- Development -- Business Development.
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS -- Structural Adjustment.
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS -- Development -- General.
Economic development projects -- Evaluation
Evaluation research (Social action programs)
Form Electronic book
Author Gertler, Paul, 1955- author.
Martinez, Sebastian Wilde, 1976- author.
Premand, Patrick, 1980- author.
Rawlings, Laura, 1964- author.
Vermeersch, Christel, author.
World Bank, issuing body.
LC no. 2010034602
ISBN 9780821385418
0821385410
9780821385937
0821385933
1283016273
9781283016278
9786613016270
6613016276