![]() ![]() ![]() But this is far from a precise measure of impact, since IPA cannot establish what would have happened had IPA never existed. How do these investments in evidence pay off? IPA estimated the benefits of its research by looking at its return on investment-the ratio of the benefit from the scale-up of the demonstrated large-scale successes divided by the total costs since IPA’s founding. ![]() Developing an evidence base is more like building a mosaic: Each individual piece does not make the picture, but bit by bit a picture becomes clearer and clearer. But the vast majority of studies did not paint a clear picture that led to immediate policy changes. These studies have sometimes provided evidence about how best to use scarce resources (e.g., give away bed nets for free to fight malaria), as well as how to avoid wasting them (e.g., don’t expand traditional microcredit). The same holds true for fighting poverty: Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), a research and policy nonprofit that promotes impact evaluations for finding solutions to global poverty, has conducted more than 650 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) since its inception in 2002. Consider the many studies required to discover a successful drug and the lengthy process of seeking regulatory approval and adoption by the healthcare system. Of course, not all rigorous research offers such quick and rosy results. Meanwhile, rigorous evidence continues to further validate the model and help to make it work even better. This evidence subsequently persuaded policy makers, replication partners, and major funders to support the rapid expansion of Living Goods’ reach to five million people. The evidence of impact was strong: Their model generated a 27-percent reduction in child mortality. For example, the NGO Living Goods conducted a rigorous evaluation to measure the impact of its community health model based on door-to-door sales and promotions. Good impact evaluations-those that answer policy-relevant questions with rigor-have improved development knowledge, policy, and practice. ![]()
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