Evaluating Social Funds

Evaluating Social Funds PDF

Author: Laura Rawlings

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 9780821350621

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Annotation Introduced in Bolivia a little over a decade ago, social funds have become a key community-led poverty reduction tool. The social fund model has proved to be a dynamic, replicable approach, easily adapted and scaled up in diverse countries around the world. This study is the first systematic cross-country impact evaluation of social funds using survey data and accepted evaluation methodologies.

Social Funds

Social Funds PDF

Author:

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2002-01-01

Total Pages: 222

ISBN-13: 9780821351413

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This study reviews the development effectiveness of social fund projects and considers the implications for their future support by the World Bank. It finds that the performance of such projects has improved over time in many respects. However, although they have been highly effective in delivering small-scale infrastructure, they have been less successful in achieving consistent improvements in outcomes and welfare impacts. The report recommends greater transparency and selectivity in the use of this policy instrument.

Impact Evaluation in Practice, Second Edition

Impact Evaluation in Practice, Second Edition PDF

Author: Paul J. Gertler

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2016-09-12

Total Pages: 364

ISBN-13: 1464807809

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The second edition of the Impact Evaluation in Practice handbook is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to impact evaluation for policy makers and development practitioners. First published in 2011, it has been used widely across the development and academic communities. The book incorporates real-world examples to present practical guidelines for designing and implementing impact evaluations. Readers will gain an understanding of impact evaluations and the best ways to use them to design evidence-based policies and programs. The updated version covers the newest techniques for evaluating programs and includes state-of-the-art implementation advice, as well as an expanded set of examples and case studies that draw on recent development challenges. It also includes new material on research ethics and partnerships to conduct impact evaluation. The handbook is divided into four sections: Part One discusses what to evaluate and why; Part Two presents the main impact evaluation methods; Part Three addresses how to manage impact evaluations; Part Four reviews impact evaluation sampling and data collection. Case studies illustrate different applications of impact evaluations. The book links to complementary instructional material available online, including an applied case as well as questions and answers. The updated second edition will be a valuable resource for the international development community, universities, and policy makers looking to build better evidence around what works in development.

Evaluating the Impact of Development Projects on Poverty

Evaluating the Impact of Development Projects on Poverty PDF

Author: Judy L. Baker

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 230

ISBN-13: 0821346970

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Despite the billions of dollars spent on development assistance each year, there is still very little known about the actual impact of projects on the poor. There is broad evidence on the benefits of economic growth, investments in human capital, and the provision of safety nets for the poor. But for a specific program or project in a given country, is the intervention producing the intended benefits and what was the overall impact on the population? Could the program or project be better designed to achieve the intended outcomes? Are resources being spent efficiently? These are the types of questions that can only be answered through an impact evaluation, an approach which measures the outcomes of a program intervention in isolation of other possible factors. This handbook seeks to provide project managers and policy analysts with the tools needed for evaluating project impact. It is aimed at readers with a general knowledge of statistics. For some of the more in-depth statistical methods discussed, the reader is referred to the technical literature on the topic. Chapter 1 presents an overview of concepts and methods. Chapter 2 discusses key steps and related issues to consider in implementation. Chapter 3 illustrates various analytical techniques through a case study. Chapter 4 includes a discussion of lessons learned from a rich set of "good practice" evaluations of poverty projects which have been reviewed for this handbook.

Measuring and Improving Social Impacts

Measuring and Improving Social Impacts PDF

Author: Marc J. Epstein

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2017-09-08

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 1351276220

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Identifying, measuring and improving social impact is a significant challenge for corporate and private foundations, charities, NGOs and corporations. How best to balance possible social and environmental benefits (and costs) against one another? How does one bring clarity to multiple possibilities and opportunities? Based on years of work and new field studies from around the globe, the authors have written a book for managers that is grounded in the best academic and managerial research.It is a practical guide that describes the steps needed for identifying, measuring and improving social impact. This approach is useful in maximizing the impact of different types of investments, including grants and donations, impact investments, and commercial investments.With numerous examples of actual organizational approaches, research into more than fifty organizations, and extensive practical guidance and best practices, Measuring and Improving Social Impacts fills a critical gap.

Social Return on Investment Analysis

Social Return on Investment Analysis PDF

Author: Volker Then

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2018-03-13

Total Pages: 406

ISBN-13: 3319714015

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This book introduces and explains how to conduct a Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis. It discusses the various advantages and disadvantages of different research strategies and designs, and explores the different ways in which SROI analysis results can be used for communication, outreach, and strategic decision-making. It provides insights into how and to what extent SROI analyses can help to meet different expectations, and presents different social impact research designs and methods. It presents an analytical framework for the identification of a proper SROI analysis, and shows readers how to establish an impact model, introducing a stakeholder-based approach.

Evaluating Social Work Services and Programs

Evaluating Social Work Services and Programs PDF

Author: Robert W. Weinbach

Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 276

ISBN-13:

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Program Evaluation uses a practical, reader-friendly approach to de-mystify evaluation research, clarifying evaluation's relationship to social work practice and providing the knowledge necessary to conduct it. This book assumes some familiarity with traditional research methods and basic statistics or are currently studying them. It contains all necessary definitions and brief explanations of essential research terminology and concepts. However, it relates them directly to their usage in evaluation research, which is often quite diffent from the way they are used in traditional research. Well organized with excellent flow from chapter to chapter, Program Evaluation does not read like a research methods book, making it the most accessible book on evaluation research available.

Measuring and Improving Social Impacts

Measuring and Improving Social Impacts PDF

Author: Marc J. Epstein

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2017-09-08

Total Pages: 266

ISBN-13: 1351276239

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Identifying, measuring and improving social impact is a significant challenge for corporate and private foundations, charities, NGOs and corporations. How best to balance possible social and environmental benefits (and costs) against one another? How does one bring clarity to multiple possibilities and opportunities? Based on years of work and new field studies from around the globe, the authors have written a book for managers that is grounded in the best academic and managerial research.It is a practical guide that describes the steps needed for identifying, measuring and improving social impact. This approach is useful in maximizing the impact of different types of investments, including grants and donations, impact investments, and commercial investments.With numerous examples of actual organizational approaches, research into more than fifty organizations, and extensive practical guidance and best practices, Measuring and Improving Social Impacts fills a critical gap.

Evaluating Social Work Effectiveness

Evaluating Social Work Effectiveness PDF

Author: Cheetham, Juliet

Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education (UK)

Published: 1992-10-01

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 0335190057

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Social work has an impact on large numbers of citizens through its services for children and families, elderly people, those with mental or physical health problems and offenders. It also provokes much criticism; its effectiveness is questioned and there are increasing demands for this to be demonstrated. This text discusses how this task may be tackled and explores possibilities for evaluative research in contexts which are often not considered feasible for such enquiry. Paying particular attention to the diverse and complex functions of social work, the book reviews the implications for choosing and adapting research methodologies, emphasizes the importance of identifying the process of social work as well as its outcomes and distinguishes between the identification of effectiveness and its evaluation. It also describes the various means of dissemination which are necessary if research is to influence policy and practice. The book, which gives many examples of research in action, draws on evaluative research in Britain and the US and also on the experience of the Social Work Research Centre. It has been written for researchers, managers, practitioners and students with responsibilities to undertake or to understand the systematic evaluation of social work.