Getting the most out of participatory impact assessment: reflections from a multi-country cash transfer impact assessment

Abstract

Mixed methods approaches are widely used in impact evaluations, but all too often a ‘methodological gap’ emerges between broad, large-scale surveys and in depth, small-scale qualitative investigation that can be difficult to bridge. In this CDI Practice Paper by Jeremy Holland, Ramlatu Attah, Valentina Barca, Clare O’Brien, Simon Brook, Eleanor Fisher and Andrew Kardan, we reflect on a multi-country impact assessment of cash transfer programmes in sub-Saharan Africa. Within a broader mixed methods suite of research modules we discuss specifically the design of a qualitative module that used participatory methods to integrate quantitative and qualitative data and analysis. We conclude that future impact assessment designs can utilise this self standing ‘within‑module’ participatory research approach to move beyond an impact assessment norm of often poorly integrated large-scale quantitative surveys and in-depth qualitative investigation