International Initiative for Impact Evaluation

The International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) is a new organization devoted to enhancing development effectiveness through supporting the production and use of evidence from rigorous impact studies. This paper outlines the activities of 3ie. The International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) seeks to improve the lives of poor people in low-and middle-income countries by providing, and summarizing, evidence of what works, when, why and for how much. This aim is embodied in 3ie‟s charitable purpose as stated in its bylaws: „contribute to the fulfillment of wellbeing by encouraging and funding the research, production and use of evidence from rigorous impact evaluations for policy decisions that improve social and economic development programs in low- and middle-income countries ‟ (3ie, 2008a: 1). There are two main arms to 3ie‟s work program: advocacy and grants to strengthen the evidence base for development interventions. A third activity is capacity building. The advocacy program promotes evidence-based policy making, rigorous impact evaluation and specific policies and programs supported by evidence from impact evaluations. At present advocacy is combined with activities which also fall under the headings of demand generation (creating awareness of the potential of impact evaluations and the role of 3ie), and capacity building. To this end, 3ie has co-organized half and one-day workshops in a number of countries, and participated in events organized by others such as the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), the Campbell Collaboration, th