Get Updates
New Mathematica Projects Highlight Expertise in Evaluating Development Programs in Global Settings
Studies to Assess Moldova Agricultural Programs, Rwanda’s Civic Infrastructure, and
School Dropout Rates in Asia and the Middle East
Contact: Amy Berridge, (609) 945-3378
PRINCETON, NJ—January 11, 2011—Access to education, agricultural development, and economic and social stability remains a challenge for many developing countries. For decades, policymakers and organizations have spent untold sums on international development initiatives to create tangible, beneficial change—often without objective evidence to determine project successes and failures. As globalization spreads, decision makers need information to assess complex social, economic, and structural initiatives that aim to alleviate poverty, promote better health outcomes, and build a productive civic foundation in the developing world.
In projects spanning Africa, Eurasia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, Mathematica's international experts work in some of the world's most difficult field conditions to conduct rigorous impact assessments and produce reliable information on the effectiveness of programs designed to address these challenges. Recognizing the rich scope and high quality of its work, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) recently awarded Mathematica key projects to assess international development initiatives in Moldova, Rwanda, Asia, and the Middle East.
Improving Agriculture in Moldova—The MCC’s compact with the Republic of Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, includes several initiatives designed to combat poverty and stimulate economic growth, especially in rural areas. Specifically, the development agreement funds projects to create irrigation infrastructure, promote agricultural production, and rehabilitate roads. Mathematica's new contract with MCC, with a base value of $467,000 and potential value of $1.7 million, involves rigorous evaluation of activities to improve agriculture. The project team is examining efforts to enhance access to agricultural finance, irrigation rehabilitation and management, and training and technical assistance for farmers. This study will give policymakers objective information to determine these programs' effectiveness.
Restoring Civil Society in Rwanda—In the wake of the 1994 Rwandan genocide during which more than 800,000 people were killed, the government severely limited freedom of expression for political parties, the media, and civil society to help quell ethnic tensions. It has taken steps to address civil liberties, political rights, and government accountability. To aid those efforts, the MCC's Threshold Program in Rwanda aims to strengthen the rule of law, civil society, civic participation, media, and the inspectorate services of the national police. Mathematica received a $400,000 contract to evaluate this program to determine its effectiveness in improving the country's judicial and legislative capacity; delivering technical assistance to the Rwandan National Police to enhance transparency and professionalism; training Rwanda media to enhance their professionalism and skills; and providing training, technical support, and grants to civil society organizations at both the local and national levels to expand civic engagement.
School Dropout Prevention Project—Mathematica is subcontracting to Creative Associates International, Inc., on a USAID-funded three-year school dropout prevention project to design, implement, and rigorously evaluate evidence-based dropout prevention pilot interventions in Cambodia, India, Tajikistan, and Timor Leste. The development of the pilot projects will be informed by country-level assessments of school dropout trends as well as a systematic review of the United States and international evidence on interventions to prevent student dropout, inspired by the What Works Clearinghouse model of systematic reviews.
About Mathematica: Mathematica Policy Research, a nonpartisan research firm, provides a full range of research and data collection services, including program evaluation and policy research, survey design and data collection, research assessment and interpretation, and program performance/data management, to improve public well-being. Its clients include federal and state governments, foundations, and private-sector and international organizations. The employee-owned company, with offices in Princeton, N.J., Ann Arbor, Mich., Cambridge, Mass., Chicago, Ill., Oakland, Calif., and Washington, D.C., has conducted some of the most important studies of health care, education, international, disability, family support, employment, nutrition, and early childhood policies and programs.