USAID/E4D launches free online program to develop research

USAID/West Africa’s Evidence for Development (E4D) is launching a free online certificate programme in health project evaluation and operations research.

The programme rolled out in conjunction with the African Evaluation Association (AfrEA), forms part of efforts to promote the development of research and evaluation skills of institutions and individuals in West and Central Africa.

The programme was on January 19, 2019, for members of AfrEA and national evaluation associations in the Sub-Saharan Africa sub-region.

Hosted on AfrEA’s website, the online courses are intended to strengthen research and evaluation capacity of researchers throughout the sub-region.

Specifically, the program aims to increase the availability and utilization of evidence-based information using online dialogue and peer-to-peer learning.

It also aims to strengthen the capacities of AfrEA members to conduct research and evaluation activities as well as develop a platform for mainstreaming evaluation discussions and dissemination of evaluation results.
Further, it presents monitoring and evaluation principles as integrated concepts and support south-to-south exchange in order to inform decisions and policies on the post-2015 development agenda.

“USAID/West Africa is committed to expanding the evidence base, building a strong network of local research institutions and acting as a convener and catalyst so that data is available and used to make sound decisions around public health programming for sustained health impact,” stated Sheila Mensah, Senior Communications, Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor, Regional Health Office USAID/West Africa.
   
“Conducting operations research and evaluations and disseminating the findings is key to our work. The online certificate program is therefore meant to build on the research and evaluation skills of institutions and individuals in West and Central Africa, and beyond, so these skills will be sustained after the life of the E4D project,” said Tanou Diallo, Chief of Party of the USAID/West Africa’s E4D.

AfrEA's mandate is to build and strengthen evaluation capacity in Africa. It has become increasingly urgent that as many evaluators as possible access different platforms to increase their capacity to meet the rising demand for evaluations.

"AfrEA is grateful to USAID/West Africa Evidence for Development for providing seed funding to set up an online platform. The online platform will reach out widely to our Voluntary Organizations for Professional Evaluation (VOPEs) and members in both French and English speaking Africa," Diallo added.
Course registration is open and the courses will be accessible January 29, 2018.

Source: Ghana|Myjoyonline.com