Courses

Foundations of Impact

The CPIA Foundations of Impact teaches participants how to appropriately define and measure the impact of projects and policies. This allows organizations to consider social impact alongside financial benefits and costs when assessing new opportunities, public policies, social programs, or international development projects. Participants learn how to assess feasibility using frameworks such as cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis (CBA and CEA). Although the methodologies in the course rely on tools from economics and finance, they are presented with an emphasis on real-world application and practicality, making the concepts accessible to students regardless of their background. Additionally, the course explores the relationship between impact and investment decisions, providing an overview of innovative project finance opportunities in the social sector.

In this course you will learn how to:

Justify the need for social projects and public policy
Analyze theory of change and measure impact
Conduct cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis
Integrate gender and environment into impact analysis
Integrate financial and social analysis
Define the role of pay-for-results and blended finance, and impact investing
Conduct cost analysis and outcome pricing
Define impact in the context of economic growth and fiscal & monetary (macroeconomic) policy

This course is delivered online and includes a balance of pre-recorded lectures, reading material, frequent live discussions with course participants, asynchronous interactions with teaching assistants and recap questions after each module.

Evaluating Impact

The CPIA Evaluating Impact course teaches participants how to evaluate the impact of projects, programs, and policies using data. It covers how to assess the quality of existing evidence, and how to build new evidence. The course discusses "right-fit" monitoring, evaluation & learning frameworks, and how to use these tools to track and manage performances. Participants learn the fundamentals of randomized control trials (RCTs) and other experimental & quasi-experimental, rigorous qualitative and quantitative methods, survey design and instrument development, and advanced data collection and analysis techniques. The course emphasizes common problems with evaluation design and analysis, and how to avoid them. It will also focus on the intersection between evidence and funding decisions, including project accountability and pay-for-results financing. The material is accessible to both experienced analysts and non-technical project managers and policymakers.

In this course you will learn how to:

Set up “right-fit” monitoring, evaluation & learning frameworks
Use project monitoring to track and manage performance
Design evaluations using RCTs and other experimental & quasi-experimental methods to assess impact
Combine rigorous qualitative and quantitative methods
Develop surveys and assessment instruments
Use advanced data collection and analysis techniques
Identify learning opportunities to improve future impact
Consider impact performance systems for organizations
Use evidence to identify efficient indicators for innovative finance

Impact Analysis Capstone

The CPIA Impact Analysis Capstone course is an exciting opportunity for participants to work closely with faculty to apply the entire impact analysis lifecycle to a project or policy. This one week of intensive, practical learning gives participants the opportunity to apply their skills assessing socio-economic feasibility (CBA), considering financing options, and designing right-fit monitoring and evaluation strategies to real world projects and policies. Participants will develop reports and presentations to communicate their findings tailored to the needs of different stakeholders, and will benefit from the practical expertise of faculty and collaboration with peers.

In this course you will apply your knowledge and skills in:

Theory of change and social justification
Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis models
Recommendations regarding the choice of financing (from grants to innovative models)
Monitoring, evaluation, and learning plans
Communications platforms and institutional strategies

Due to COVID-19, the Capstone course will be held online during 2022.
Delivery will will use real time collaboration technology to allow for creative learning through group work and frequent one on one sessions with the faculty. Group work will utilize virtual whiteboards, meeting rooms, and other co-creation tools.
This course is a full-time course - participants must have no other engagements during the course week. Complete course schedule available upon registration or request.

Students will be offered a choice of policy/project options in different sectors to take through the entire impact analysis life cycle. Alternatively, students may bring their own actual project or policy to work on during the course. This provides you with an opportunity to apply new skills to your existing work and to receive high quality feedback from our faculty members. Many institutions take advantage of this feature to build capacity and access external expertise, all without slowing down the on-going projects. For more information, or to find out if your project is suitable please email us at queens@cpia.global.