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Does Technical Assistance Matter? An Impact Evaluation Approach to Estimate its Value Added

Author

Listed:
  • Luis Marcano

    (Office of Evaluation and Oversight at the Interamerican Development Bank.)

  • Inder J. Ruprah

    (Office of Evaluation and Oversight at the Interamerican Development Bank.)

Abstract

Many public programs and operations by multilateral organisations include technical assistance to the direct beneficiaries of the program in addition to pure financing. However, there is no substantial body of studies that calculates the additional impact; in the sense of exclusively attributable to, of technical assistance on the outcome of interest of the program. We propose the use of multi-treatment impact evaluation method -propensity score combined with exact matching for dosage and double difference- for estimating technical assistance’s impact. We illustrate the technique for two potable water and sewerage programs where the direct beneficiaries are local governments, although the method is applicable for different types of programs and beneficiaries. The impact calculations reveal that technical assistance does matter as it has an impact over and above that of only financing. Given the small dollar value of technical assistance relative to the dollar value of transfers not only does technical assistance matter but it is a way of getting more for less. Thus technical assistance, in the examples studied, does matter.

Suggested Citation

  • Luis Marcano & Inder J. Ruprah, 2009. "Does Technical Assistance Matter? An Impact Evaluation Approach to Estimate its Value Added," OVE Working Papers 0109, Inter-American Development Bank, Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE).
    • Handle: RePEc:idb:ovewps:0109
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ibarrarán, Pablo & Sarzosa, Miguel & Soares, Yuri, 2008. "The Welfare Impacts of Local Investment Projects: Evidence from the Guatemala FIS," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 3020, Inter-American Development Bank.
    2. Núria Bosch & Francisco Pedraja & Javier Suárez-Pandiello, 2001. "The efficiency of refuse collection services in Spanish municipalities: do non-controllable variables matter?," Working Papers 2001/4, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
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    6. Núria Bosch & Francisco Pedraja & Javier Suárez-Pandiello, 2001. "The efficiency of refuse collection services in Spanish municipalities: do non-controllable variables matter?," Working Papers 2001/4, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
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    Cited by:

    1. Jaud, Melise & Cadot, Olivier, 2012. "A second look at the pesticides initiative program: evidence from Senegal," World Trade Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 11(3), pages 490-506, July.
    2. Francisca Henriquez, 2009. "Microcrédito y su Impacto: Un Acercamiento con Datos Chilenos," OVE Working Papers 0309, Inter-American Development Bank, Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE).
    3. Lee, Kye Woo & Kim, Tae Jong, 2015. "Real-time Impact Evaluation of a Capacity-Building Health Project in Lao PDR," KDI Journal of Economic Policy, Korea Development Institute (KDI), vol. 37(4), pages 75-88.
    4. Legovini, Arianna & Di Maro, Vincenzo & Piza, Caio, 2015. "Impact evaluation helps deliver development projects," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7157, The World Bank.
    5. Gonzalez Diez, Verónica M. & Ibarrarán, Pablo & Maffioli, Alessandro & Rozo, Sandra, 2009. "The Impact of Technology Adoption on Agricultural Productivity: The Case of the Dominican Republic," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 3017, Inter-American Development Bank.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection
    • H43 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Project Evaluation; Social Discount Rate
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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