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Around thirty (30) socio-economists from National Agricultural Research Institutes (INRA) in fifteen (15) countries are meeting in the seaside resort of Saly to improve their knowledge and skills in impact assessment of development projects and programs.

Initiated by CORAF, the five-day training workshop will enable participants to better understand the criticality of impact assessment, and to familiarize themselves with modern tools for conducting better impact assessments of development projects, including those implemented by CORAF.

When you want to get a community from point A to point B through a project, it's important to collect baseline data from the outset of the project, so that you can clearly assess whether the project's objectives have been achieved, and what the real impact has been on the community".

says Dr Hippolyte AFFOGNON, Coordinator of the Partnership Program for Agricultural Research, Education and Development in West Africa (PAIRED).

Impact assessors and workshop participants agreed that it is difficult to determine whether a project is succeeding or failing, without baseline data.

"CORAF's main mission is to implement a myriad of projects for the benefit of millions of beneficiaries in West and Central Africa. However, speaking of impact, the real change triggered by these projects on populations is not always gauged at its true value", affirms Dr. AFFOGNON. 

"Consequently, mastery of the trajectory that leads to impact, and above all of the best impact assessment techniques and methodologies, is crucial if we are to go more deeply into what we know about impact assessment for CORAF projects."

This workshop responds to this need, and aims to establish the culture of impact assessment in the West and Central African region, to better appreciate the impact of its activities in the field.

Community of practice in impact assessment

The workshop opening today in Saly is the first activity of the impact evaluation community of practice set up by CORAF.

Made up of socio-economists from INRAs in West and Central Africa, this community is a network of practitioners in the field, which aims to be a melting pot for the exchange and sharing of best practices among its members.

"The idea behind the community of practice is to build up a critical mass of expertise in impact assessment, which can then be called upon by CORAF or INRA to carry out impact studies as and when required," emphasizes Dr. AFFOGNON. 

This workshop should further strengthen the network and enhance members' skills.

Read also:

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• West African NARS set up a communications community of practice