Understanding the true impact of a health intervention is essential for effective policy-making and resource allocation. Impact evaluation is the systematic process of determining whether a program or policy has achieved its intended outcomes and, most importantly, whether observed changes can be attributed directly to the intervention itself. This training course delves into the methodologies and practical skills needed to design, conduct, and interpret rigorous impact evaluations in a variety of healthcare settings.

This program is designed for health professionals who need to move beyond simple monitoring and learn how to generate credible evidence of an intervention's causal effect. You will gain a deep understanding of experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental designs, as well as the statistical techniques required to analyze evaluation data. By the end of this course, you will be equipped to provide robust evidence that demonstrates the value of your programs to stakeholders and drives meaningful improvements in global health.

Duration

5 days

Target Audience

• Public health researchers and epidemiologists
• Program managers and team leaders
• Monitoring and evaluation specialists
• Policy analysts and health economists
• Staff from non-profit and international development organizations
• Healthcare administrators and planners
• Government officials in health departments
• Academics and students in public health
• Anyone responsible for program design and funding decisions
• Clinicians involved in public health initiatives

Objectives

• Understand the fundamental principles of impact evaluation.
• Differentiate between attribution and contribution.
• Choose the appropriate evaluation design for a given intervention.
• Design a rigorous evaluation plan with a strong causal inference framework.
• Collect and manage high-quality data for an impact evaluation.
• Analyze evaluation data using various statistical methods.
• Critically assess and interpret the findings of an impact evaluation.
• Avoid common biases and pitfalls in evaluation design.
• Use evaluation results to improve program effectiveness and inform policy.

Course Modules

Module 1: Fundamentals of Impact Evaluation

• The difference between monitoring, process, and impact evaluation.
• The importance of establishing a counterfactual.
• Key concepts: causality, attribution, and confounding factors.
• Introduction to different evaluation designs.
• Ethical considerations in conducting impact evaluations.

Module 2: Experimental Designs

• The principles of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs).
• How to design and implement an RCT in a health setting.
• Addressing challenges and limitations of RCTs.
• Case studies of successful and unsuccessful RCTs.
• Analyzing data from an RCT.

Module 3: Quasi-Experimental Designs

• When and why to use quasi-experimental methods.
• Introduction to difference-in-differences analysis.
• Interrupted Time Series (ITS) design.
• Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and its application.
• Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD).

Module 4: Non-Experimental Designs

• Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of observational studies.
• Methods for controlling for selection bias.
• Case-control and cohort studies in an evaluation context.
• Introduction to qualitative methods for understanding impact.
• When non-experimental designs are the only feasible option.

Module 5: Data Collection and Sampling for Evaluation

• Developing a sampling strategy for your evaluation.
• Best practices for designing survey instruments.
• Using both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods.
• Ensuring data quality and reliability.
• Tools and technologies for data collection.

Module 6: Data Analysis and Interpretation

• Statistical software for impact evaluation.
• A practical guide to regression analysis for causal inference.
• Interpreting statistical significance and confidence intervals.
• How to handle missing data and outliers.
• Communicating complex results in a clear and accessible way.

Module 7: Putting It All Together: From Design to Dissemination

• Creating a comprehensive impact evaluation plan.
• Writing a compelling terms of reference for an evaluator.
• Disseminating findings to policy-makers and stakeholders.
• Using evaluation results for adaptive programming.
• Building a culture of evidence-based practice within an organization.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.