The Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) organized the “Introduction to Impact Evaluation: A Training Workshop for the DOLE Inter-Agency on Research and Statistical Matters (DOLE IAC-RSM)” held at Richmond Hotel in Pasig City on 10 December 2015.

The workshop was facilitated by the Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the world’s poor through research and technical assistance.

“We want to increase the awareness and knowledge of DOLE technical staff, including program managers and implementers, on impact evaluation concepts so they can assist in, and facilitate, the conduct of evaluation activities, for evidence-based decision-making and policy and program development,” said OIC-Executive Director Mary Grace L. Riguer who delivered the welcome remarks on behalf of DOLE Asec. Katherine B. Brimon.

The speakers from IPA shared their expertise in the area of impact evaluation, particularly in the aspects of needs assessment, sampling, change theory, and outcome measurement.

During the DOLE Mid-Year Planning Assessment in 2014, Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz gave instruction that all DOLE programs in existence for at least five (5) years must undergo impact evaluation. The Secretary identified programs as priorities for evaluation such as Special Program for the Education of Students (SPES), Youth Education, Youth Employability (YeYe) program and livelihood programs.

In the same year, the DOLE, along with DSWD and OPAPP, received funding support for the evaluation of its programs under the Philippine Policy Window, an ongoing initiative of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to fund impact evaluation activities in various policy areas in the Philippines. At present, preparations are underway for the impact evaluation of the SPES, also in partnership with the IPA, and the evaluation will start in 2016.

The Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) is the policy research and advocacy arm of the Department of Labor and Employment. For more information on this press release, please visit: http://ils.dole.gov.ph or call the ILS Advocacy and Publications Division at tel.no. 527-3490 /527-3447.