Impact Evaluation Training for the Irish Department of Social Protection

PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR

Rahel Kahlert

PROJECT TEAM AT THE EUROPEAN CENTRE

Elif Naz Kayran Meier

PROJECT PARTNERS

Department of Social Protection, Government of Ireland

BACKGROUND

The Irish Department of Social Protection is charged with evaluating the effectiveness of its current programmes in terms of Working Age Supports. This also means that the Department needs to provide the evidence base to support its decision making at the strategic level. In the 21st century, there has been a growing interest at the European level in impact evaluations due to a rise of accountability concerns of public spending as well as a heightened call for evidence. Therefore, policy stakeholders benefit from a user-oriented understanding of impact evaluation approaches and methods. The training targeted stakeholders from senior management with extensive experience in social policy development.

AIMS

The training team at the European Centre provided a one-day training programme on impact evaluation on May 25, 2022. The outcomes for the trainees were to learn and apply the principles and theories related to impact evaluations in their own professional field.

METHODS

The training implemented a hands-on, interactive learning approach to foster peer learning. The training covered the following topics:

  • Evaluation aims and needs in social policy
  • Impact versus process evaluation
  • Theory of change and logic models
  • How to develop and use indicators in social policy case studies
  • Case studies

ACTIVITIES/MILESTONES

The training team provided trainees with an electronic pre-reading pack and a post-lecture pack including the PowerPoint slides, training materials, and references.

The European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research supports the Sustainable Development Goals

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