Specialist short course

Learn how to design impact evaluations more effectively using a contribution analysis approach with our five-day in-person specialist training course.

Many development programmes have overlapping activities that are regularly adapted in collaboration with multiple partners to respond to ongoing changes in the operating environment. Traditional impact evaluation methods that measure differences in baseline and endline outcomes are not well suited to deal with this complexity.

Contribution Analysis has emerged as a structured approach that is better able to address these real-world challenges. It consists of a stepwise, iterative process of refining Theory of Change. Mixed method research designs are used to verify the critical and contested assumptions.

You’ll be introduced to the strengths and weaknesses of several novel methods that can be used within a Contribution Analysis approach to impact evaluation, including methods to explore causal patterns in data sets (Qualitative Comparative Analysis; Explorative Statistics) and qualitative causal inference (Process Tracing, Realist evaluation), and methods to increase learning and empowerment (Participatory Evaluation).

Course aims Facilitators Who is it for How you’ll learn Outcomes

Learn how to design impact evaluations more effectively using a contribution analysis approach with our five-day in-person specialist training course.

Many development programmes have overlapping activities that are regularly adapted in collaboration with multiple partners to respond to ongoing changes in the operating environment.

Traditional impact evaluation methods that measure differences in baseline and endline outcomes are not well suited to deal with this complexity.

“The course structure was great, with a good mix of group work, theory, and opportunities to apply learning to your own work. The facilitators were approachable and set out a very good environment for learning.

“The course provided an overarching framework within which to view different impact evaluation methods.

“Being primarily a quantitative researcher, I now feel more confident in applying qualitative methods.

Course aims

To equip individuals and organisations to design impact evaluations using a contribution analysis framing more effectively.

Who should attend?

Contribution Analysis is an important tool for anyone whose role requires them to evaluate the impact of international development programmes and interventions.

This course will be particularly helpful for those working on complex programmes such as

Advocacy
Human rights
Private sector development
Peace building

Previous clients include consultants, academics, experienced independent evaluators, programme implementers, early-stage researchers interested in innovative and mixed research methods and evaluation commissioners such as policy makers.

We have worked with participants from Frontline AIDS, FCDO, Gatsby Foundation, GIZ, Global Affairs Canada; Korea Development Institute, Norwegian Red Cross, Rainforest Alliance, Save the Children USA, Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), World Agroforestry Centre and the World Food Programme.

IDS short courses provide a unique opportunity to bring your own challenges and experiences relating to your work or research for discussion, to learn from your peers and grow your professional network.

How you will learn

You’ll learn through a mixture of presentations plus Q&A, and individual and small group work around a set of case studies. As the course progresses, you’ll apply your knowledge incrementally – ending up with a ‘finished’ example of a strong, interlinked mixed-methods research design to verify the theory of change of a project or programme.

Learning Outcomes

At completing this course you will be able to:

Understand current debates on impact evaluation methodologies.
Develop an evaluation design that responds to the evaluation questions and context
Choose appropriate methods to gather and analyse data to support conclusions about effectiveness.
Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of the various evaluation approaches.

Why study this course with IDS?

This course is delivered by practice-based researchers, who have extensive experience applying these methods to their own major multi-year programmes. With combined decades of experience between them, to give you the most up-to-date information on effective impact evaluation approaches.
Dr Giel Ton is Research Fellow at IDS and co-leads the Centre for Development Impact (CDI). Specialising in research on governance mechanisms in agricultural value chains, he has published widely about the methodological challenges of impact evaluation of development interventions. He has implemented numerous applied research projects relating to business training, contract farming, export promotion and certification schemes, resulting in peer-reviewed publications.
Dr Marina Apgar is Research Fellow at IDS and co-leads the Centre for Development Impact (CDI). She has 20 years’ experience working in South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific with marginalised communities and civil society organisations. Her focus is on exploring systemic drivers of oppression and how to achieve outcomes in the interest of marginalized people, through combining participatory action research and theory-based evaluation.
Dr Mieke Snijder is a Research Fellow at IDS. She has over a decade of experience in designing and implementing methodologies to evaluate interventions for various underserved communities. Her doctoral research investigated the tensions between the use of participatory approaches and evaluation of complex community-based interventions with three Australian Aboriginal communities.

Location and building accessibility

This is an in-person short course, so please visit our contact page for information on how to get to IDS. Please also check the building accessibility information if required.

Entry requirements

Participants must have experience with impact evaluation or be working in a role where impact evaluation is needed.

The course is taught in English. To derive the maximum benefit from the course, participants should be proficient in English and able to take an active part in discussions. Your English needs to be of an intermediate standard or higher. Ideally, you will have an International English Language Test System (IELTS) score of 6.5 or above, a Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR) score of B2 or above.

Course fees

Course fees start from £1,085 per person.

Fees are as follows (see ‘discounts’ section for more information):

Discount Type	Discount Amount	Discounted Fee
Small non profits + group booking	30%	£1,085
IDS & Sussex alumni	20%	£1,240
Short course alumni	20%	£1,240
Small non profits (income under £10 million)	20%	£1,240
Low- and middle-income countries (income under £10 million)	20%	£1,240
Group discount (three-five places)	10%	£1,395

The full course fee is £1,550 for five days.

Fees include lunches and refreshments, an evening group dinner, and course materials. It does not include accommodation.

Once you have received confirmation that your application has been approved, the fee must be paid in full to secure your place on the course.

Pay short course fees in instalments

You can now pay for your place on this course in instalments. To organise paying in monthly instalments, please email [email protected].

Please note that you will need to have paid the final amount by the course start date, so please contact us as soon as possible ahead of the course start date to arrange this.

Discounts

Non-profits discount

A 20% discount on course fees is offered to participants from small not-for-profit organisations (income under £10 million). Please indicate in your application if you wish to be considered for this discount. There is a limited number of this discount offered, at the discretion of the course convenor.

Low- and middle-income countries

A 20% discount on course fees is offered to participants from low and middle income countries (income under £10 million). Please indicate in your application if you wish to be considered for this discount. There is a limited number of this discount offered, at the discretion of the course convenor.

IDS and Sussex Alumni

A 20% discount on course fees is offered to participants who have studied with IDS and the University of Sussex, including both postgraduate and short courses.

Group discount

Groups of three to five participants from one organisation will be offered a 10% discount on the total fee. (This discount can be used in conjunction with other discounts. i.e. a small non-profit booking three places qualifies for a 30% discount). If you make a group booking, you get an additional workshop tailored to your programme or project.

Early bird discount

Anyone who is accepted and makes payment by 31 July 2024 qualifies for a 10% discount.

If you have any questions about your eligibility for these discounts, please contact the short courses team.

How to apply

Please read our short course booking Terms and Conditions (pdf) and IDS Code of Conduct (pdf).

The application procedure is a three-stage process:

Stage 1: Apply by completing the online application form. Deadline for applications is 16:00 GMT on 18 December 2024.

Stage 2: You will be notified within two weeks as to whether your application has been approved or not. Successful applicants will receive an acceptance email and details of how to pay the course fees. Places on the course are not guaranteed until fees have been received.

Stage 3: Once fees have been received, you will be sent confirmation of your place on the course and a letter to support your visa application (if required).

You are responsible for organising your own travel and visas (where needed). Please note that UK visa applications can take months to process. Information about local accommodation will be provided by the course coordinator once your fees have been processed.

This is course is run regularly. If you can’t make it to this date, you can register your interest in future sessions by contacting us at [email protected].

Bespoke versions of this course can also be planned and delivered in country for a single institution or group of institutions and partners, by arrangement. Please contact Leah Plati: [email protected] for further information.

If you are interested in an online version of this course, please contact us at: [email protected].