In collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka and the Asia and the Pacific Division of IFAD, the Independent Office of Evaluation organized a learning workshop in Colombo, on 3 December 2013, to discuss the methodology, key findings and recommendations from the impact evaluation of the Dry Zone Livelihood Support and Partnership Programme.

This was the first impact evaluation conducted by IOE. The evaluation applied mixed methods including quantitative survey conducted on 2,560 households, involving households both receiving and not receiving project support, and data were analysed through advanced econometric techniques.

Taking into account its objectives, the workshop was attended by nearly 50 participants from: (i) the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the Ministry of Education, the Central Bank, and other concerned central government authorities; (ii) district-level authorities from Anuradhapura, Badulla, Kurunegala and Moneragala; (iii) international organizations active in rural development in Sri Lanka; and (iv) private-sector organizations and NGOs.