The Center for Evaluation and Development (C4ED), in collaboration with the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), recently concluded the final session of its Impact Evaluation Capacity Building Workshop series. This two-day French and English language workshop focused on equipping EUTF-funded project staff with practical skills to synthesize evidence and apply it to program design and decision-making.
Day 1: Foundations of Evidence Synthesis
Day 1 introduced the core principles of evidence synthesis and its role in evidence-based programming. Topics included:
- Concepts and Components of Evidence Synthesis: A foundational overview of evidence synthesis, emphasizing its importance in building robust, evidence-based practices.
- Types of Reviews and Methodologies: Participants explored various systematic review types, data screening techniques, and synthesis methods, including meta-analysis, to enhance program design.
- Qualitative and Quantitative Data Extraction: Training on developing search queries and selecting high-relevance studies tailored to specific program goals.
- Hierarchy of Evidence: Guidance on evidence ranking to identify best practices and ensure reliable program outcomes.
Day 2: Advanced Techniques and Practical Applications
On Day 2, the workshop delved into advanced tools and strategies for applying evidence synthesis in real-world contexts:
- Statistical Analysis Techniques: Participants learned how to calculate and interpret effect sizes, confidence intervals, statistical significance, and graphical tools like forest and funnel plots to assess evidence reliability.
- Contextualizing Findings and Decision-Making: Discussions focused on transforming research insights into actionable recommendations for program design and implementation.
- Challenges and Case Studies: Real-world examples from EUTF-funded projects illustrated how to address challenges like participant dropouts or no-shows while leveraging evidence-based solutions.
- AI Tools for Evidence Synthesis: The workshop concluded with an exploration of AI tools such as Perplexity and Scispace. Participants assessed these tools’ potential to support evidence synthesis while recognizing their limitations.
Acknowledgments
A heartfelt thanks to the facilitators—Elikplim Atsiatorme, Thomas Eekhout, Viviana Urueña, Jakob Sarrazin, Marina Rinke, Mathilda Featherston, Sié Mohamed Barro, and Atika Pasha—whose expertise ensured a comprehensive and engaging learning experience. The workshop is on YouTube for the public to access as well.
This workshop series reflects C4ED’s ongoing dedication to building capacity within the EUTF network. We are excited to see how participants will apply these skills to shape impactful, evidence-driven programming!