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Working Paper

27 March 2023

Process Tracing Innovations in Practice: Finding the Middle Path

Published by: Institute of Development Studies

This CDI Practice Paper draws on comparative learning from applying three different types of process tracing in international development initiatives. It argues in favour of a ‘middle path’ of applying evidence tests and rubrics to structure evaluative judgements rather than formal Bayesian updating or looser forms of process tracing. It also calls attention to the potential added value of taking a participatory approach, offering practical recommendations for how to do this effectively.

Tom Aston
Tom Aston
Alix Wadeson
Centre for Development Impact
Working Paper

25 August 2022

Evaluating Capacity-Strengthening Impact: A Funder Perspective

Published by: Centre for Development Impact (CDI)

This CDI Practice paper by Peter Taylor describes the evolution of the Think Tank Initiative (TTI) evaluation approach as it engaged progressively with the complexity of the programme. It reflects critically on key lessons learned through process and outcomes. It also offers some takeaways for those commissioning evaluation of large, complex capacity‑development interventions.

Peter Taylor
Peter Taylor
Centre for Development Impact
Working Paper

14 August 2019

Assessing the Relative Importance of Causal Factors

Published by: IDS

While contribution analysis provides a basis for making causal claims and understanding how and why change occurs, it does not on its own estimate the relative importance, much less the size, of the causal factors at work. In this CDI Practice Paper written by John Mayne, we discuss ways of assessing the relative importance of such causal factors, while arguing that there are likely no quantitative answers to the question.

John Mayne
Centre for Development Impact
Working Paper

2 October 2018

Getting the Most Out of Participatory Impact Assessment: Reflections from a Multi-Country Cash Transfer Impact Assessment

Published by: IDS

Mixed methods approaches are widely used in impact evaluations, but all too often a ‘methodological gap’ emerges between broad, large-scale surveys and in-depth, small-scale qualitative investigation that can be difficult to bridge. In this CDI Practice Paper we reflect on a multi-country impact assessment of cash transfer programmes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Jeremy Holland & 6 others
Centre for Development Impact Ethiopia Ghana Kenya Lesotho Malawi Sub Saharan Africa Zimbabwe
Working Paper

14 March 2016

Building Evaluability Assessments into Institutional Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Frameworks

Published by: IDS

This CDI Practice Paper by Richard Longhurst, Peter Wichmand and Burt Perrin discusses how evaluability assessments (EAs) can support the choice of evaluation approaches for determining impact, drawing on recent experiences of the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour of the International Labour Office.

Richard Longhurst
Richard Longhurst
Policy Anticipation, Response and Evaluation Centre for Development Impact El Salvador Ghana Latin America and the Caribbean Peru Philippines South East Asia Sub Saharan Africa Thailand
Working Paper

29 February 2016

Using Participatory Statistics to Examine the Impact of Interventions to Eradicate Slavery: Lessons from the Field

Published by: IDS

This CDI Practice Paper reflects on the use of participatory statistics to assess the impact of interventions to eradicate slavery and bonded labour.

Pauline Oosterhoff
Pauline Oosterhoff
Danny Burns
Danny Burns
Participatory Action Research and Learning Within Large-Scale Operational Programs to Reduce the Prevalence of Bonded Labour in India and Nepal Policy Anticipation, Response and Evaluation Centre for Development Impact Central and South Asia India
Working Paper

13 April 2015

Straws-in-the-wind, Hoops and Smoking Guns: What can Process Tracing Offer to Impact Evaluation?

Published by: IDS

This CDI Practice Paper by Melanie Punton and Katharina Welle explains the methodological and theoretical foundations of process tracing, and discusses its potential application in international development impact evaluations.

Melanie Punton
Katharina Welle
Katharina Welle
Policy Anticipation, Response and Evaluation Centre for Development Impact Ghana Sub Saharan Africa Tanzania