Center for Effective Global Action
March 2016 - Impact Note

   
Over the next
Makerere University
6 months, fellows from the East Africa Social Science Translation (EASST) Collaborative will be leading a series of 15 workshops on impact evaluation research across Uganda. The trainings will reach an estimated 800 participants at Makerere University, Gulu University, Mbarara University, and Uganda Christian University.
   
    


Millions Saved: New Cases Featuring CEGA Researchers
 
Two studies led by CEGA affiliate Paul Gertler are highlighted on CGD's new Millions Saved website - a collection of success stories in global health. Both evaluations - one of Argentina's Plan Nacer, the other of Mexico's Piso Firme program - influenced national scale-up in each country.





Sports Betting in Urban Uganda: An EASST spotlight   

Sylvan Herskowitz
Betting on international football matches is highly popular among men in many countries across sub-Saharan Africa. In an EASST-funded study, Sylvan Herskowitz (Berkeley), CEGA affiliate Jeremy Magruder, and Bruno Yawe (Makerere) explore whether participation in betting among Kampala's market workers and motorcycle drivers is driven by behavioral factors or financial constraints.    
PEOPLE
 
Development Economics: Theory and Practice 
 
Development Economics: Theory and Practice, the latest book by CEGA affiliates Alain de Janvry and Elisabeth Sadoulet, identifies seven key dimensions of development; growth, poverty, vulnerability, inequality, basic needs, sustainability, and quality of life. Read more here.
  
 
 
IN THE NEWS
 
Teacher Absenteeism in India
 
New research by CEGA affiliate Karthik Muralidharan shows that teacher absence can be as high as 46% in some Indian states. The study, along with local approaches for cutting absenteeism, was recently covered by the New York Times.
 




Insuring risk: a smart response to humanitarian disasters? 

This month the Huffington Post cites research by CEGA affiliate Manisha Shah and co-author Lisa Cameron, who evaluated the risk preferences of Indonesian households exposed to natural disasters. They find that people exposed to a flood or earthquake have persistent risk aversion, even years later, suggesting that access to insurance could be an important tool for humanitarian response. 
 



Shifting the Focus to Impact 
   
The use of evidence to scale effective ideas is the focus of a recent
New York Times article featuring CEGA affiliate Pascaline Dupas. Her work on HIV education for Kenyan teenagers exemplifies the importance of sharing research findings to broaden a project's reach and generate greater impact.
 
OPPORTUNITIES  
 
Research Grant - Partnerships in East Africa
Photo Credit: Cameron Breslin

EASST is now accepting proposals for the the Fourth Annual Research Grant Competition. This call funds pairs of East African researchers and CEGA faculty to rigorously evaluate interventions in the region (deadline: April 13).