By Rosemund Warrington In August this year, CARICAD’s Assistant Director, Programmes and Planning, Mrs. Rosemund Warrington attended a regional seminar on Introduction to Impact Evaluation of Public Policies and Programmes at the Center of Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE) in Carretera Mexico. The main goal of the seminar was to provide participants with a thorough introduction to the concepts and methods used for conducting impact evaluations. The training focused on the following four objectives: 1. To train participants in the management and mastery of the necessary tools for management, monitoring and evaluation of the impact of public policies 2. To explore quantitative techniques and standards to be considered in an assessment of impact 3. To determine the validity of the results and the limits imposed by the decisions taken as it regards measurement 4. To exchange experiences among partners in the process of public policy making The course was aimed at public officials, policy makers, decision-makers and evaluators of programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean, who require knowledge on impact assessment. The Caribbean was represented by Mrs. Warrington as well as a CARICAD Board Director, Mr. Reginald Brotherson, who represented Guyana. Over 30 persons from 15 countries participated including officials from CIDE and CLAD. The course was co-sponsored by a number of organisations including the Permanent Secretariat of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), the Latin American Centre of Administration for Development (CLAD), the Ibero-American School of Administration and Public Policies (EIAPP), CAF-development bank of Latin America, and the Regional Centre for Learning on Evaluation and Results for Latin America and the Caribbean (CLEAR-LAC). The course was designed as a workshop “Clinic” in that, as a practical complement to the theoretical lectures, participants committed a substantial part of their course time to group work. The hands-on programme facilitated a better understanding of impact evaluation through planning, measurement and reporting of public policy and programmes. Moving from concepts to real-world situations, a series of practical sessions allowed participants to 11 FROM LEFT: Mrs. Rosemund Warrington, CARICAD; Mr. Daniel Roa, Permanent Secretariat of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA); and Ms. Margualida Torres Moreno, CLAD. work on evaluating the impact of small development projects in Latin American and African countries. With the steady assistance of the course facilitators we were able to define the most appropriate impact evaluation method(s) that should be used given the specific nature of the programme, data, budget constraints, policy and country context. Generally, the course was insightful and relevant to the nature of work at CARICAD and its focus on promoting a results-based management approach in member states. Mrs. Rosemund Warrington, Assistant Director, Programmes and Planning, CARICAD and Board Director, Mr. Reginald Brotherson, representing Guyana.
12 Publizr Home