TRAINING ANNOUNCEMENT

Impact Evaluation for Development Practitioners

A Two-day Non-Technical Training with Bangladesh and Global Examples

Duration: Two Days   |   Format: Participatory Training   |   Language: English/Bangla

Overview

Impact evaluation is key to measuring program benefits, but often we do not know whether they work, for whom, or why. This two-day training equips participants with the conceptual tools to ask the right evaluation questions, commission rigorous studies, and interpret and act on impact evaluation (IE) evidence. Drawing on real-world examples from Bangladesh as well as global evaluations, the training bridges rigorous methodology with practical, policy-relevant application. No maths, statistical software, or prior IE experience is required.

The training covers the full arc of impact evaluation—from foundational concepts to practical application. Participants will learn why establishing causality (not just correlation) is the central challenge in evaluation, and how the counterfactual concept makes rigorous measurement possible. The training introduces the most widely used evaluation methods—including Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT), Difference-in-Differences (DID), Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD), Propensity Score Matching (PSM), and Instrumental Variables (IV)—explaining the logic behind each and when to use them. It also covers evaluation frameworks such as the results chain, key threats to causal inference, and ethical considerations. The training concludes with a multiple-choice question (MCQ) assessment to test the learning.

What Participants Will Learn

• Why attribution matters and how correlation differs from causality.
• The counterfactual concept and why it is the heart of rigorous impact evaluation.
• When and how to use five major IE methods.
• Common threats to causal inference—selection bias, confounding, spillovers, and contamination, and how evaluation designs address them.
• How to correctly time data collection (baseline, midline, endline, and follow-up surveys).
• How to communicate IE findings effectively to different audiences—from cabinet officials to beneficiary communities.
• Real IE case studies from Bangladesh and world.

What This Training Will Not Cover

• Econometrics or regression mechanics—no equations or formulas will be used.
• Practice with statistical software or coding (Stata, R, or Python).
• Survey instrument design and sampling.
• Qualitative research methods—the focus is on quantitative causal inference concepts.
• Sector-specific technical deep dives beyond the illustrative examples used.

Who Should Attend

• Government officials and policymakers involved in program design, monitoring, or budget decisions.
• NGO and development practitioners managing or commissioning programs.
• Donor agency and development finance professionals evaluating investments.
• Researchers and academics seeking to engage more effectively with IE evidence.
• Graduate students in economics, public policy, development studies, or related fields.

About the Trainer

Hussain Samad is a senior development economist and impact evaluation expert with over 25 years of experience with leading international organizations including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Gates Foundation, IFPRI, and the Inter-American Development Bank, across South Asia, East Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He is co-author of the Handbook on Impact Evaluation: Quantitative Methods and Practices (published by the World Bank) and seven other books, has published over 35 peer-reviewed journal articles and working papers, and his work has been cited more than 7,500 times according to Google Scholar. His research spans energy access, microfinance, education, digital financial services, and rural infrastructure, with several landmark studies focused on Bangladesh, and his findings have been featured in The Economist.

Logistics & Registration

Duration	Two full days
Format	Interactive training with group discussions, Q&A, and a final assessment
Language	English and Bangla
Venue	iDEA Foundation Training Room (Borak Unique Heights (Lift-10), Flat 11/A, 117, Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka 1000.)
Date	July 3 and 4, 2026 (Day Long)
Registration	Click Here- https://forms.gle/SUNWbr4JdfhKSQca7
Fee	8000 (Special Discount for Current Fulltime Graduate Students)
Contact	Phone Number- 01816390005 Email- info@idea-bd.org, syedarfat@idea-bd.org

Seats are limited. Early registration is encouraged.