Rigorous Impact Evaluations

A rigorous impact evaluation (RIE) is the umbrella term for a range of evaluation methods (experimental and quasi-experimental) that use a counterfactual (control or comparison group) to answer the question: What was the impact of a development project on its recipients? You can learn more about what RIEs are, why they are important, and when to use and when not to use them in our blog posts.

Depending on the project/programme to be evaluated, RIEs may differ in design (ex-ante/ex-post), size, duration, rigour and costs.​​​​

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In short, we offer the following statistical evaluation methods:​​

• Randomised Control Trials (RCT)

• Difference-in-Difference (DiD) Approach

• Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD)

• Different Matching Methods

• Inverse-Probability Weighted Regression Adjustment (IPWRA)

• Instrumental Variable (IV)

• Heckman selection model, 

• Endogenous Switching Regression

• Synthetic Control

• Etcetera

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When rigorous impact evaluations are not suitable (see our blog post on this here), we also design, plan and implement other quantitative approaches such as: ​​

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• baseline/midline/endline evaluations,

• tracer studies,

• needs assessments,

• advanced statistical analysis​

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