AIID wants to find out what works and what doesn’t in development – and why.
AIID conducts independent impact evaluations, operational research and policy analysis. They employ a range of quantitative and qualitative techniques to assess effects of policy interventions in developing countries.
These include: Household Surveys, Focus Group Discussions, Randomized Controlled Trials, Difference-in-Difference Regressions, Propensity Score Matching, In-depth interviews, Experiments, Diaries
Their funders include NGOs, such as the Health Insurance Fund and Oxfam Novib, government agencies, such as the Policy and Operations Evaluation Department (IOB) of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and international organizations, such as the World Bank.
AIID also facilitates academic researchers in applying for funding from organisations as NWO, DFID and the European Commission’s research programmes, and supports these researchers in conducting field studies.
Mission
The Amsterdam Institute for International Development conducts academic research on international development and shares research findings with a wider global audience. They want to find out what works and what doesn’t in development – and why.
They are committed to the rigorous evaluation of policy interventions in developing countries that meets international academic standards. As such, AIID forms a nexus between the academic world, policy makers and implementing organisations all over the world.
Strategy
AIID focuses its research on interventions that have a direct effect on the lives of the poor in developing countries. They adapt research methods to the operational context of development programmes. They strongly believe that evaluation is most effective when research questions and design are developed in consultation with programme funders.
Another important element of their work is cross-fertilisation with teaching and research programmes at the two Amsterdam universities. They provide internships, employ research assistants and contribute to PhD projects.
Organisation
AIID was founded in 2001 by the University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam to link their experts in the field of international development. The institute is established as a foundation under Dutch law. Principal Investigators of the research projects are academics with positions at the two founding universities. The organisation is lean and flexible.
The main decision making body of AIID is the Board. It sets strategic goals for AIID and formulates general policy, meeting at least twice a year. Within the framework set by the Board, two directors – one representing the University of Amsterdam, the other for VU University Amsterdam – guide the institute in its work. They decide on what projects to take on, guard the quality of research, maintain contacts with the institute’s fellows and decide on general operational matters. To this end, they are assisted by a managing director, who is responsible for day-to-day management of AIID.
As of 2017, AIID has integrated its activities with sister institute AIGHD, the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development.
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