syllabus

In order to meet this challenge, participants will be led by the following **learning objectives:** In order to meet this challenge, participants will be led by the following **learning objectives:** In order to meet this challenge, participants will be led by the following **learning objectives:**
 * ** Online Workshop: **
 * Integrating Food Security Impact Assessment into Program Design ** ||
 * ** Pre-course activities **** (25-30 October 2011) ** Before the course gets started on 31 October, please edit your profile and describe yourself and your work, take the indicated interactive lessons, and join the introduction forum. ||
 * [[image:http://impactassessmentprogrammedesign.wikispaces.com/site/embedthumbnail/placeholder?w=200&h=249 width="200" height="249"]] || ** Session 1: Theory of change and indicators **** 31 October – **** 6 November 2011 **  **// Challenge: //** Participants will develop the capacity to think through the theory of change of a given programme, and use that process to develop key indicators of impact.
 * Understand the theory of change of a particular programme;
 * Become familiar with the program logic or results chain (activities, outputs, short and medium-term outcomes, long-term outcomes and impact);
 * Formulate evaluation questions to be addressed in an impact assessment;
 * Identify potential unintended and indirect (spillover) effects of a program;
 * Building on the above, develop high-level indicators for the program, and identify their sources. ||
 * [[image:http://impactassessmentprogrammedesign.wikispaces.com/site/embedthumbnail/placeholder?w=200&h=249 width="200" height="249"]] || ** Session 2: Creating a counterfactual **** 7 November- **** 13 November 2011 **  **// Challenge: //** Participants will develop an understanding of the basic methods and approaches to impact assessment. They will apply that understanding to create a ** counterfactual ** for a given program (that is, a strategy to gauge what // would have happened in the absence of the program). //
 * Understand why it is necessary to consider the counterfactual at programme design
 * Become familiar with the basic experimental and non-experimental approaches to assessing impact, and translate a given approach to create a reasonable counterfactual.
 * Determine the manner in which treatment and control groups will be created;
 * Discuss potential for spillover effects and how these will be measured and controlled for; ||
 * [[image:http://impactassessmentprogrammedesign.wikispaces.com/site/embedthumbnail/placeholder?w=200&h=249 width="200" height="249"]] || ** Session 3: Designing an impact assessment plan **** 14 November- **** 20 November 2011 **  ** Challenge 3: ** Based on methods selected in the previous sessions, participants will design a rigorous impact assessment for a food security programme.
 * Analyze the relationship between the main elements of an impact assessment design plan;
 * Consider the technical aspects of data collection: sample size, questionnaire design;
 * Review issues in setting up and administering household surveys;
 * Consider the practical details of implementation (skills required, reporting results, coordination, workplan and budget);
 * Synthesize and apply knowledge acquired through the course in order to design a rigorous impact assessment for a food security program. ||
 * ** Course wrap-up and evaluation **** 21 November- **** 27 November 2011 ** The platform will remain open for one week following the course to allow participants to turn in their final assignment (impact assessment design plan). Participants will also be kindly requested to share their feedback through the course evaluation. ||