IZA/FCDO G²LM|LIC, J-PAL MENA and UNICEF Egypt - Advanced Course on Evaluating Social Programmes

The IZA/FCDO Programme on Gender, Growth and Labour Markets in Low-Income Countries, J-PAL MENA and UNICEF Egypt are announcing a 3-day Short Course on Impact Evaluation of Social Programmes on November 11-13, 2024 in Cairo, Egypt. The course will be preceded by a policy conference on November 10, 2024.

This intensive course is designed to equip postgraduate students, faculty members, and early career researchers in government and non-governmental organizations with the essential skills and knowledge required to conduct robust impact evaluations using different methodologies.

Course Details

• Duration: 3 days
• Location: AUC New Cairo
• Target Audience: Postgraduate students, faculty members, and early career researchers in government and non-governmental organizations who would like to develop their skills in programme evaluation using the latest econometric methods.
• Level: Advanced
• The course is intended for participants based in institutions in Egypt, other MENA and African countries.

Course Objectives and Key Topics

By the end of this course, participants will:

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of impact evaluation methodologies.
• Develop the ability to design and implement impact evaluations.
• Learn to analyze and interpret impact evaluation data.
• Enhance their skills in reporting and communicating evaluation findings.

The course will cover the following topics: Design and analysis of randomized controlled trials; difference-in-difference estimators and regression discontinuity designs. The focus will be on application of these methods using STATA. A STATA license will be provided to all course participants. Moreover, a number of selected participants will be given the opportunity to present their own research in a poster session.

Instructors

Oriana Bandiera (London School of Economics and IZA)
Emily Beam (University of Vermont and IZA)
Benjamin Elsner (University College Dublin and IZA)
Ahmed Elsayed (J-PAL MENA at AUC and IZA)
Evaluation Office - UNICEF HQ (tbc)

Prerequisites for Joining the Advanced Impact Evaluation Course

• Educational Background:
  • A postgraduate degree or current enrollment in a postgraduate programme in a relevant field (e.g., social sciences, economics, statistics, or relevant fields).
• Knowledge:
  • Familiarity with statistical concepts and methods.
  • Understanding of research design and methodology.
  • Awareness of child and adolescent related issues.
• Technical Skills:
  • Proficiency in using statistical software (e.g., R, Stata, SPSS) for data analysis. Stata will be used for the application of the course.
  • Prior experience with data collection and management is highly desirable.
• Previous Experience:
  • Prior involvement in research projects or evaluations is highly desirable.
  • Experience with impact evaluation or related fields is a plus but not mandatory.
• Language Proficiency:
  • Proficiency in English, as the course will be conducted in English.
• Commitment:
  • Availability to attend the entire four days (conference day and three days of the course) and actively participate in discussions and practical sessions.

These prerequisites will help ensure that all participants have a foundational understanding and the necessary skills to engage with the advanced material covered in the course.

Participants who are selected will be required to bring a laptop and be in attendance for the full period, including the conference on November 10, 2024. The target class size is about 40 participants. The course is intended for participants based in institutions in Egypt, other MENA and African countries. In particular, priority will be given to participants who are involved in the design, implementation, or analysis of programmes related to gender and/or children and youth, or labour market programmes or plan to be involved in the future.

The course and the conference will be conducted in English.

Funding

Participants from abroad who are selected for the course will be provided with accommodation including breakfast from November 9-14, 2024 (5 nights) and meals according to the programme of the conference and short course. Economy class travel expenses will be reimbursed according to the IZA reimbursement guidelines.

Submission

Applications should be made via the online application form (on top of the page) by August 25, 2024. (Please note that applicants will have to sign in using their Google accounts, or sign up for one, in order to be able to fill the form.)

Applicants interested in presenting their current work in a poster session should upload their latest paper version as well. Priority will be given to applicants working on topics related to gender and/or children and youth, or labour market programmes.

The programme committee will aim to communicate its decisions to the applicants by September 6, 2024.