High Lands Centre of Leadership for Development-Rwanda

The Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa (NIERA) in collaboration with the Utrecht University, United States International University (USIU), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the University of Rwanda (UR), and High Land Centre of Leadership for Development (HLC-L4D) organized a learning event on Impact Evaluation (IE).

The training took place at Galaxy Hotel, Kigali, from Monday 28th February to Friday 4th March, 2022. The 5 days training targeted anyone with a background in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Agribusiness, and related fields with knowledge of econometrics as a prerequisite.

The following approaches employed in project/program/policy impact evaluation were covered during the training:

- Fundamentals of program/ policy evaluation

- Sources and management of data used in policy/program evaluation

- Randomized control trials

- Propensity score marching (PSM)

- Different-in-Different (DiD)

- Instrumental Variables (IV)

- Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA)

- Heterogeneous treatment effects

In addition, the training equipped learners with an introductory course in STATA software, which covered the following aspects:

- STATA interface

- Loading data in to STATA

- Data management using STATA

- Descriptive statistics with STATA

- Linear regression with STATA

- Econometrics models for policy/program/project evaluation with STATA

Further, the principal trainer (Prof. Alfred Bizoza) provided a guideline for the policy design process and challenged the trainees to evaluate any of the ongoing programs and policies in the country. The training blended a theoretical approach with a practical approach.

The training team suggested a list of published reading papers and presented real-life projects on impact evaluation. Most of the learners came from the University of Rwanda, with a few from government institutions. At the end of the event, those who fully attended the training were awarded certificates of participation.

Dr Batamuliza Aurelie, head of the rural development and agricultural economics department closed the training with a vote of thanks to the participants, the organisers, and partners. She urged the trainees to go back and practice what they learnt.

Thursday 10th February 2022, HLC-L4D held a meeting with the IFPRI team, who paid us a courtesy visit at our Kimihurura office.

This was the first of several others, after a collaborative partnership between the two parties, aimed at advancing Rwanda’s agricultural transformation. The main agenda was the development of capacity for policy analysis.

The president and Founder of HLC-L4D introduced the research team, presented the company’s profile, and the Impact Evaluation module.

Happening Now: Baseline Survey Report on Sustainable Agricultural Productivity and Market Linkage Project (SAPMP).

Sustainable Agricultural Productivity and Market Linkage Project (SAPMP) is a four-year project (October 2020 to December 2024) funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and implemented by the Project Management Consulting (PMC), which is an implementing agency selected by KOICA and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources
(MINAGRI) through Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board (RAB).

The project’s intervention area is Nyiramageni Marshland and its surrounding hillside sites, located between Gisagara and Nyanza Districts. The project’s primary goal is to increase agricultural productivity and incomes of low-income smallholder farmers to support smallholder farmers, especially women involved in the production of food crops, horticulture (fruits and vegetables), and other crops.

The SAPMP baseline survey was conducted in collaboration with the High Lands Centre of Leadership for Development (HCL-L4D) to document the current prevailing conditions of key project indicators as presented in the results framework and other information support to inform the implementation of the project.

On 1st October 2021, the former Managing Director of HLC-L4D, Mr John Rwirahira, officially handed over to the Incoming Managing Director, Mr Fred Mugisha.

Read more: https://l4d.rw/rwanda-in-development-marathon-and-the-centre-has-an-essential-role-in-the-process-hlc-l4d-welcomes-new-leadership/

Rwanda in development marathon and the centre has an essential role in the process| HLC-L4D Welcomes New Leadership – HLC-L4D On 1st October 2021, the former Managing director of HLC-L4D, Mr John Rwirahira, officially handed over to the Incoming Managing Director, Mr Fred Mugisha. 

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