Conducting a data and evidence use assessment with the Ministry of Education and Literacy in Côte d’Ivoire

• In Event: Institutionalizing Evidence-Based Decision-Making: Embedding a Culture of Evidence Use

Proposal

In Côte d’Ivoire, we are co-creating a lab with the Ministry of Education and Literacy (MENA) to use data and rigorous research to design, test, and scale evidence-based programs and policies to improve learning for students.

We have conducted a data and evidence use assessment to improve our understanding of data capacity within MENA, as well as around the culture of research, data, and evidence use. Our methodology consisted of quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews, and a document review using existing resources such as data mapping that had been conducted by education sector partners. Results from our assessment note that there is a gap between policy needs and data and evidence use across the Ministry. We also found poorly documented and standardized procedures for data generation, an average level of connection between databases, and limited resources allocated to MEL teams. However, we did find that there is an appetite among decision-makers in all central structures to access and use these data. During this presentation, we will present the methodology and tools used to conduct the assessment, share more detailed results, and discuss how we are using these results to determine which activities the lab should carry out and what our goals are for the lab’s progress.

Author

• Shahana Hirji, Innovations for Poverty Action