Rigorous Impact Evaluation - Funding Programme
Rigorous impact evaluations (RIEs) measure the causal effect of an intervention (e.g. a microcredit programme) on an outcome of interest (e.g. household income). The RIE funding programme is intended to anchor RIE more firmly in and thus increase the effectiveness of German development cooperation. The funding programme financially supports approximately nine RIEs with up to 365,000 euros each during 2023 to 2025. Eligible for funding are RIEs that evaluate interventions in German development cooperation funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
What are Rigorous Impact Evaluations?
Rigorous impact evaluations (RIEs) measure the causal effect of an intervention (e.g. a microcredit programme) on an outcome of interest (e.g. household income). The RIE funding programme is intended to anchor RIE more firmly in and thus increase the effectiveness of German development cooperation. Therefore, the funding programme supports RIEs, which evaluate BMZ-funded measures of German development cooperation. Since March 2023, nine RIEs have been funded with each up to 367,000 euros until September 2025. An overview and further information on the funded research projects can be found on the RIE website.
Motivation
There are several hurdles to implementing RIEs, including the associated costs, lack of awareness of their benefits and a lack of skills to implement them. This is where the funding programme comes in by providing financial support, consulting and networking opportunities.
In addition, the RIE funding programme promoted an exchange of knowledge between the science and development cooperation practitioners by bringing together development cooperation projects and interested scientists with the help of a matchmaking event.
In this way, the funding programme contributes to anchoring RIE more firmly in German development cooperation:
Process
The funding programme timeline is divided into the following phases:
In Phase 1, development cooperation projects were identified which are suitable for RIE and especially for the funding programme.
In Phase 2, DEval conducted matchmaking between development cooperation projects and scientific institutions. The responsible scientists then work with the identified development cooperation projects to develop RIE research projects.
Subsequently, in Phase 3, the scientists could apply to DEval for funding. This application required a letter of support from the development organisation implementing the project.
In Phase 4, a selection committee evaluated the funding applications and decided how to allocate the funding.
RIE research projects are implemented in Phase 5, which lasts approximately 2.5 years, ending in the autumn of 2025.
Finally, in Phase 6, the success of the RIE funding programme will be evaluated. For this purpose, learning experiences during the implementation of the funding programme are to be processed.
Funded Projects
- 1. Center for Evaluation and Development (C4ED)
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Evaluating an Entrepreneurship Training Tool: Experimental Evidence from Benin (GIZ)
- 2. European School of Management and Technology Berlin (ESMT Berlin)
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Evaluation of a Digital Skills Program for TVET Teachers in Rwanda (GIZ)
- 3. University of Göttingen
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Ecological and socio-economic effects of the forest restoration program PLAE in Madagascar (KfW)
- 4. University of Heidelberg/ Heidelberger Institute for Global Health
- 5. Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences
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Impact evaluation of the OPD health insurance in Northern Pakistan (KfW)
- 6. Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
- 7. ifo Institut – Leibniz-Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich
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Impact Evaluation of a Labor Mobility Program in Tunisia (KfW)
- 8. RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research
- 9. University of Hamburg
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Multiple impacts of energy efficiency school rehabilitation in Georgia (MultEER) (KfW)
Further Information
RIE Website
The RIE website offers information and materials about rigorous impact evaluation. In addition to explanations and definitions, the website also provides all the relevant information regarding the RIE funding programme. Among other aspects, the website presents the nine funded RIEs and will report on their current status.
RIE Research Project
In addition to the RIE funding programme, DEval is also currently conducting an RIE research project. Information on that project can be found here.
Team
- Jens Eger Evaluator
- Benjamin Heil Project Administration: Pilot Funding Programme for rigorous impact evaluations (RIEs)
- Angelika König Evaluator – Team Leader
- Dr Wiebke Stein Evaluator - Team Leader
- Alisa Buchstab Evaluator
Contact
Angelika König
Phone: +49 (0)228 336907-907
E-mail: angelika.koenig@DEval.org
Dr Martin Bruder
Phone: +49 (0)228 336907-970
E-mail: martin.bruder@DEval.org