what is the purposes of contribution analysis

The approaches work on the assumption that in all other respects, the treatment and control groups have the same characteristics, and that differences in outcomes between them can therefore be attributed to the intervention.

Approaches that show whether and how an intervention has contributed to observed impacts, along with other factors. These approaches set out to make a plausible argument for causality, identifying outcomes and then tracing the mechanisms through which interventions may have influenced them, while paying careful attention to the context.Įxperimental and quasi-experimental methods compare the results for a treatment group of beneficiaries, who participate in an intervention, and a control group who do not.

Where appropriate methods are used carefully, these approaches make it possible to make causal claims about the intervention as the cause of the impact, and to measure how much of the impact can be linked to the intervention. These compare the effects of an intervention to a counterfactual situation, or what would have otherwise happened.

Approaches that allow impacts to be attributed to the intervention.

The two main classes of approaches to establishing causality for market systems programmes are as follows: Approaches to establishing causalityĪssessing what an intervention has achieved hinges on the question of causality. This section instead provides a summary review of the issue of attribution for the purposes of monitoring. The question of how to evaluate market systems programmes is discussed in detail in the forthcoming BEAM Exchange Evaluation guidance.

Where robust evidence that an innovation piloted by the programme works is needed to persuade other market actors to adopt it.

Where a decision to scale-up, modify, or cancel an intervention needs to be made.

Nonetheless there will be circumstances during the course of the programme in which it is important, for monitoring purposes, to make a rigorous assessment of what an intervention is achieving.

This assessment has traditionally been the preserve of evaluation, rather than monitoring.

The questions about what the programme and its interventions are achieving assess the extent to which observed changes are the result of programme activities. 04 Attributing results to programme interventions

What is the purposes of contribution analysis