While much of development research takes place in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), researchers from those same countries remain underrepresented in shaping the questions, designing methods, and leading partnerships that drive the field. This gap not only limits participation but also weakens the relevance and long-term impact of the evidence that is produced.

In our collaborations with over 30 universities across Africa, one of the most frequent requests we receive is for support in impact evaluation training. While institutions are eager to strengthen their role in generating policy-relevant evidence, many of our university partners identify a clear need for more structured and comprehensive training in impact evaluation methods. In most LMIC universities, impact evaluation courses are not fully integrated into undergraduate or graduate programs, often due to limited resources, or the relatively recent growth in demand for hands-on, methods-based training. These gaps underscore a growing demand among LMIC researchers for training and tools that enable them to lead rigorous studies grounded in their local policy contexts. By responding to this demand, IPA seeks to strengthen long-term research capacity and leadership in the countries where we work.

At IPA, we believe research is most impactful when it reflects the perspectives and priorities of the communities it serves. In response, we partner with LMIC universities to expand LMIC-led pathways for shaping questions, designing studies, and leading projects.

Moving Beyond One-Off Workshops

In 2021, we launched the Research Collaboration Initiative (RCI) to help shift this balance by reducing barriers to research participation, supporting emerging researchers, and forging long-term partnerships with institutions in LMICs. 
Through mentorship, small grants, and impact-evaluation training, we are partnering with researchers from LMICs and institutions to co-design and lead rigorous, locally grounded evaluations. 

But we recognize that one-off, short-term workshops can only go so far. That is why IPA is piloting embedding impact evaluation training into university degree programs to build sustained expertise, ownership, and continuity over time.

A Model for Long-Term Change

Our shift centers on a university‑led training model that lives within existing academic systems instead of sitting at their periphery as one-off contributions. In partnership with the International Committee for the Development of People (CISP) and faculty at Kenyatta University, IPA co-developed and embedded an Impact Evaluation unit into the Master of Economics Cooperation and Human Development (MECOHD) program, which uses real‑world projects for hands-on learning.

The final co-developed EAE 850 course outline ensures a deliberate focus on rigorous methodologies, especially randomized controlled trials, mapping core impact evaluation competencies to the program’s learning outcomes. This isn’t just about course content, nor is it just a course add-on; it’s about a truly collaborative model for sustainable institutional change.  Here is how it works:

Joint design and delivery: from joint curriculum development to delivery and assessment, IPA and Kenyatta University faculty worked side by side at every stage. Teaching responsibilities are shared between theory modules and practical workshops including data-analysis sessions and live case study presentations led by guest practitioners and renowned researchers.

Academia meets field research: Student assessment combines analytical reports using local datasets with practical defenses of their evaluation designs, blending academic rigor with practitioner insight. 

Wide reach: The cohort of around 20 participants includes young economists, NGO researchers, and government policymakers, creating a dynamic, practice-oriented learning environment that can promote the use of evidence among practitioners and decision-makers.

By building on the university’s strengths and integrating hands-on impact evaluation training, this approach offers a replicable model for institutions across the continent that want to strengthen their engagement with rigorous policy-relevant research.

Why Focusing on University-Led Models Works Matters

This approach offers three key advantages:

• Sustained Institutional Ownership: Unlike standalone workshops, a curriculum-embedded short course enjoys stable funding, accreditation, and faculty engagement.
• Contextual Relevance: Lecturers tailor case studies to country-specific and regional policy challenges, ensuring that examples and assignments resonate with students’ realities and increasing the applicability of what students learn.
• Ongoing Mentorship: University professors and IPA staff co-mentor students, preserving institutional memory and reinforcing learning year after year.

Looking Ahead

Challenges remain. Many universities in LMIC still face high teaching loads, limited research funding, and few opportunities for researchers to publish or lead large-scale studies. Nevertheless, there’s opportunity. Interest in LMIC-led research leadership is growing among donors, governments, and global research partners who recognize the value of investing in LMIC research ecosystems.

By embedding impact evaluation training and support directly into university programs, we anticipate an increase in home-grown impact evaluators capable of designing and leading rigorous studies. This university-owned model not only increases the quantity of qualified researchers in LMICs but also elevates the quality of policy-relevant evidence generated.

As students graduate and join research teams, whether within the government, NGOs, or academia, they will carry with them the skills, networks, and mindset to drive a sustainable culture of evidence generation and use.

At IPA, we are committed to walking alongside our partners on this journey as collaborators. We will continue to invest in relationships, co-developing platforms for learning and leadership, and supporting researchers with the tools they need to drive evidence-informed change in their communities. 

By broadening who leads, who contributes, and who benefits, we can move toward a more impactful future.