Impact evaluation is a type of evaluation that aims to assess the overall impact or effectiveness of a program or intervention in achieving its intended outcomes. The primary purpose of impact evaluation is to determine the causal impact of the program or intervention, or in other words, to determine whether the program or intervention caused the observed changes in the target population.

Impact evaluation typically involves the use of experimental or quasi-experimental designs to isolate the effects of the program or intervention from other factors that may be influencing the observed outcomes. It may involve the use of a control group, or a comparison group, that does not receive the program or intervention, to establish a baseline against which the impact of the program or intervention can be measured.

Examples of Impact Evaluation Questions #

The questions asked during an impact evaluation depend on the nature of the program or intervention being evaluated and the outcomes being measured. However, some typical questions that can be asked during an impact evaluation include:

1. Did the program or intervention cause the observed changes in the target population?
2. To what extent did the program or intervention achieve its intended outcomes?
3. What were the positive and negative impacts of the program or intervention?
4. What are the costs and benefits of the program or intervention?
5. Were there any unintended consequences of the program or intervention?
6. How do the impacts of the program or intervention compare to similar programs or interventions?
7. What factors contributed to the success or failure of the program or intervention?
8. What lessons can be learned from the program or intervention that can inform future programming?

Overall, impact evaluation is an essential tool for determining the effectiveness of a program or intervention in achieving its intended outcomes and for guiding future programming and resource allocation decisions.