
Evaluation and
Research
Generating robust evidence to assess, inform, and strengthen policy and programs.
Generating robust evidence to assess, inform, and strengthen policy and programs.
Understanding what works and why is fundamental to strategic decision-making. I4DI offers high-quality, rigorous research and evaluation services to provide our clients with the evidence they need to catalyze results.
I4DI’s researchers specialize in designing studies to help you solve or explore a practical, real-world problem. Our end-goal is always to illuminate a potential solution, whether that be a program or policy idea for governments or development practitioners, or a market-based approach to be pursued by the private sector. We do this by centering and amplifying the voices of those at the core of the issues. Our relentless pursuit of a wide range of perspectives gives our clients confidence that they will have an end-product with a holistic analysis of the problem or opportunity at hand. I4DI is well-versed in the range of qualitative and quantitative methods. We are best known for our mixed-methods research covering a myriad of diverse topics, such as youth participation in cocoa farming in Indonesia, the adoption of Best Management Practices in the Amazon, and the post-recovery response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa.
Specific types of research we pursue include:
Social Science Research Economic Research
Market Research Participatory Action Research
I4DI’s evaluators specialize in making critical judgments about the effectiveness of your program, policy, or organizational strategy. We do this by distilling results at various levels along a theory of change- from outputs and outcomes, to intermediate and long-term impact. Essential to our work is evaluation utilization.
This means we design and disseminate our findings and recommendations to address the needs of the end-user. Whether you are looking to better allocate resources, study and share results for transparency and accountability, or facilitate an adaptive management process, we ensure that our evaluations are fit-for-purpose and cost-effective. I4DI has expertise in the range of experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental designs and our work has influenced decision-makers at the likes of USAID, the United Nations, and the World Bank, and private sector clients, like Gap Inc. and Mars Inc.
The types of evaluations we offer include:
Impact Evaluation Outcome Evaluation
Process Evaluation Developmental Evaluation
Meta-Evaluation Whole-of-Organization Evaluation
Ex-Post Evaluation Cost-Benefit Analysis
Cost Effectiveness Analysis Supply Chain Analysis
Case Studies
I4DI’s researchers specialize in gathering information necessary to help you understand and assess a current situation in context, identify opportunities, vulnerabilities, capacities, and resources, or set priorities to design a program or project. By “setting the scene” for our clients in the present, we build the foundation for better-informed design and implementation decision-making in the future. Given our long-standing relationships across sectors, I4DI is well-versed in discussing the advantages and disadvantages with our clients on the focus of assessment activities. We prioritize collaboration and look forward to strategizing regularly with you to determine the most sensible path forward.
Assessment categories that I4DI offers include:
Stakeholder Assessments Institutional Assessments
Sustainability Assessments Competency Assessments
Supply Chain Assessments Gender Assessments
Evaluability Assessments Feasibility Studies
I4DI’s researchers consistently use the latest digital tools for rapid, geo-located data collection, storage, management, and analysis to help you make smarter decisions, faster. In a world where data is more abundant and accessible, harnessing the power of technology to transform data points into decisions efficiently is critical. Not only do we take advantage of existing tools on the market, but I4DI also utilizes our own in-house surveying software, which feeds directly into our project management information system (Zen-O) to auto-analyze incoming datasets. Whether you are looking for a partner that is committed to leveraging technology for improved quality and cost effectiveness of services, or interested in a custom solution to your surveying needs, I4DI is on the forefront of tech integration and innovation. In all that we do, we are pushing our industry forward to harness the benefits of a digitally-infused approach to our research and evaluation.
Types of digital surveying tool services we offer include:
Bespoke digital tool development
Configuration & customization of third party digital tools
Integration of survey tools with analytical and PMI software systems
Learn more about the background and expertise of our team of evaluation specialists, technologists, and development practitioners. We would love to hear more about what problem you are currently working to solve.