Introduction to Program Evaluation

This workshop will help participants understand how to select the most appropriate approach when seeking to evaluate programs and policies. The focus will be on large-scale public-sector programs and the new methods used in their evaluation.

It will introduce participants to a range of evaluation methods, designs and measurement techniques, including both qualitative and quantitative methods useful for process, outcome and impact evaluations. It will also provide an introduction to the many frameworks that can be used to evaluate programs and policies. It will outline practical steps from program planning, through to developing and assessing evidence of effectiveness, and finally outline the process of scaling up interventions to reach a wider audience.

The workshop will include a particular focus on evaluating natural experiments, as well as complex programs.

The workshop will be interactive and participants are encouraged to consider and communicate their own evaluation learning needs before attending, as there will be an opportunity to have their questions answered. There will also be some pre-reading material provided and it is recommended before attending (around 2-3 hours of pre reading).

Who should attend?

The workshop will be valuable for policy makers and program managers/implementers with limited evaluation expertise who want to get a general understanding about contemporary approaches to program evaluation.

Session details

The session will cover:

• Principles of program evaluation
• Evaluation principles in practice
• More advanced evaluation concepts and methods:  complex programs