IPDET BUILDING CAPACITY IN DEVELOPMENT EVALUATION: The International Program in Development Evaluation Training Linda Morra Imas Presentation for the Annual Meeting of the American Evaluation Association in San Antonio, Texas November 12,

Why IPDET as a model? The program Its features Its evaluations 2

What is IPDET? Graduate level education in development evaluation held each June –Two-week, 80 hour core course –Two additional weeks of 24+ workshops Initiated by the World Bank’s Independent Evaluation Group with partner, Carleton University in Ottawa Response to documented training gap 3

IPDET is: Fee-based: substantially self-sustaining –Donors enable scholarships for % Entering its 11 th year– same time, same place annually Continuing community building and contact through moderated listserv Individually customized Aimed at working professionals with graduate degrees IPDET is Not: A free good, masking real demand and raising issues of sustainability Offered sporadically One-off training Standardized University semester course A free good, masking real demand and raising issues of sustainability Offered sporadically One-off training Standardized University semester course 4

About 3000 participants from 120 countries –Mix of developing country ministries, development banks and bilateral agencies, NGOs, foundations, academia, private sector –Spin-offs: SHIPDET, mini-IPDETs Linked to Carleton’s new diploma in public policy and evaluation Growth of local partners as contributors, e.g. guest speakers 5

IPDET’s Key Features CORE Comprehensive Facilitated hands-on application of knowledge and skills to designing evaluations CES Panel Networking Listserv WORKSHOPS More depth Continuing professional ed 24+ workshops with world class instructors New workshops to reflect changing issues & standards 6

The Core Course 7 Generic evaluation tools rather than one donor system or one method Emphasis on “E” but some “M” Theory of Change plus Evaluation design matrix Community-building

The Workshops 2 or 3 days each with focus on development evaluation methods Out of offerings, participants can select 4 over two weeks Some change each year to maintain currency and quality Like Core, hands-on and applied 8

IPDET’s Annual Evaluation Core: Annual Pre/post knowledge test Level 1 annual evaluations for core, week 3, week 4, individual workshops by arms-length evaluator Impact evaluations 2004, 2010 Partner evaluations Anecdotes 9

Evaluation Findings Knowledge Test: statistically significant differences every year About 90-96% would recommend program to a colleague +90% would return for additional training +90% 4 or 5 on likely use of knowledge and skills acquired Anecdotal: (1) listserv; (2) new jobs, promotions 10

2010 impact evaluation Brad Cousins and Catherine Elliott- University of Ottawa concluded that: IPDET is a very successful program- unparalleled in its ability to develop foundational knowledge and skill in development evaluation; there is a fairly high degree of knowledge transfer of M&E skills learned at IPDET to participants’ work environments; IPDET is helping to build local capacity and an appetite for development evaluation 11

Concluding Thoughts Growth of DE training but IPDET has a niche/brand, track record, continuing support for participants, and recurring schedule Key point– IPDET “walks the talk” when comes to evaluation and its use Building demand the other side of the equation For those who will be M&E leaders, IPDET meets a need 12

For more information, go to: Linda Morra Imas Advisor for Evaluation Capacity Development, IEGCS & Independent Consultant Co-Director, International Program for Development Evaluation Training This presentation represents the views of Linda Morra Imas and the findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Independent Evaluation Group of the World Bank Group or the Executive Directors of the World Bank Group. 13