DUSHANBE, June 23, 2015, Asia-Plus — The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the Institute of Public Policy and Administration of the University of Central Asia (IPPA UCA), International Security and Development Center (ISDC) and the United Nations University Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT) are offering a summer school on Impact Evaluation Methods in Central Asia from 21 to 28 June 2015 in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan.
According to press release issued by the University of Central Asia, this is the second summer school offered by SIPRI and UCA through an international partnership. The first, on Labor Markets in Central Asia, took place last year. Attended by 20 Central Asian researchers, young professors, doctoral students and government officials, the school covered key themes of labor economics, labor market issues in Central Asia and beyond, and relevant research and policy analysis methods.
The school has reportedly brought together 28 participants representing development agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and higher education and research institutions based in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Russia and Bangladesh. Participants are learning the theory and practice of theory-based impact evaluations and related state-of-the-art quantitative and qualitative techniques. Through the rigorous program, they are expected to gain a high-level understanding of the importance of these instruments and their role in the design and assessment of public policies and development interventions.
Summer school sessions are being taught by a team of regional and international experts, including Dr. Tara Kaul of the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), Dr. Anastasia Aladysheva and Dr. Damir Esenaliev and of SIPRI, Professor Tilman Brück of ISDC, Dr. Eleonora Nillesen of UNU-MERIT. The invited guest speakers include Dr. James Thurlow of the International Food Policy Research Institute, Chinara Irisova of the Center “Interbilim”, and Dr. Judy Yang and Dr. Saida Ismailakhunova of The World Bank.
The summer school on Impact Evaluation Methods in Central Asia is funded by 3ie as a part of the research project, Impact Evaluation of LivingSidebySide®, Peace-building Educational Program in Kyrgyzstan.
3ie is an international grant-making NGO promoting evidence-informed development policies and programs in low- and middle-income countries. 3ie funds impact evaluations and systematic reviews that generate evidence on what works in development programs and why.
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. Established in 1966, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public. Based in Stockholm, SIPRI also has a presence in Beijing and Washington, DC and is regularly ranked among the most respected think tanks worldwide.
The Institute of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Central Asia (IPPA UCA) provides in-depth analysis of Central Asian economic policies and professional development opportunities for civil servants in the region.
ISDC – International Security and Development Center provides evidence-based analysis and policy advice on the interactions of security, conflict, violence and fragility with socio-economic development, growth, employment and poverty alleviation. ISDC is based in Berlin and collaborates with a broad range of partners in academia, policy making and practice.
United Nations University – Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT) is a joint research and training institute of United Nations University and Maastricht University, based in the south of the Netherlands. The institute explores the social, political and economic factors that drive technological innovation, with a particular focus on creation, diffusion and access to knowledge. UNU-MERIT covers all aspects of governance in domestic and global organizations, from risk assessment to policy analysis, design and evaluation.
