PASGR and NIERA Collaborates to Train on Impact Evaluation for Public Policy

The Partnership for African Social Governance Research (PASGR) in collaboration with The Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa organised an Impact Evaluation for Public Policy training that was  hosted by the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Nairobi from November 7-11, 2022. The training which was held both in person and online, attracted registration of 195 trainees from over 26 countries with over 100 attending both online and in person.

The training targeted policy makers and public policy practitioners with an aim of guiding them on how to develop policies and use impact evaluation to enforce the policies.  The course examined the need and importance of evidence to support decision making processes across various sectors.

Prof. Fred Jonyo, Chairman, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, at the University of Nairobi officially launched the training and highlighted that the training intends to enhance the efficiency of public policy. He noted that, “We are moving away from generic policy making process to one which uses facts and data to deploy policy and have the end user become the critical consumer of this policy,’’

PASGR’s Executive Director, Dr. Anthony Mveyange who was also the course facilitator noted that impact evaluation is critical and important for evidence informed policy making in the continent. He retaliated that, “The training is an initiative that PASGR and NIERA joined forces to ensure that we can  create a critical mass of scholars, public policy practitioners and other interested stakeholders in building the relevant capacity that largely lacks in the continent,”

Sessions covered several functions of conceptualizing an evaluation, different innovations when using socio-economic methods, integrating evidence-based practices, understanding the different methodologies for conducting impact evaluations, and choosing the most appropriate methods with limited resources. Jennifer Nyakinya, Programme Manager NIERA noted that, “The purpose of this course is to ensure that we make a culture for participants to embed rigour in the evaluation and policy making process.  We have been able to demystify what impact evaluation is, its methods and be informed on how to engage with policy makers to inform public policy

One of the participant, Dr. Daniel Karanja, a member of Education and Social Sciences Research Association of Kenya (ESSRAK) described the training as impactful, stated that he came in with an expectation to learn more about impact evaluation, however he did not only learn more but the training but it also gave him a seat to nurture and impact his colleagues.

This training comes after the launch of the Research Methods Training for PhD students series jointly organised by both PASGR and NIERA following the MoU signing early in the year which aimed to see both organisations jointly work together to build capacity, implement collaborative projects, carry out policy outreach for evidence informed decision making.