Rapideval - Evidence for better futures

Training

Training and capacity building

We start with your challenge, not our slides.

Our capacity-building programmes connect methods and tools to the issues participants face in their own organisations. Real policy, planning and implementation challenges become the working cases.

More than 3,500 public officials trained since 2018, from national and provincial departments, public entities and legislatures.

Enquire about training

Bring the work into the learning

Before a programme, we work with you to identify the challenges and learning needs that matter. It might be a policy under review, a programme with unclear results logic, a monitoring framework that needs strengthening, or a decision that needs better evidence. Participants then use these cases to explore concepts, assess evidence and develop practical draft outputs.

How the approach works

  1. Frame the challenge: identify the question and why it matters.
  2. Analyse the problem: explore causes, consequences and assumptions.
  3. Work with evidence: search, appraise and synthesise what is known.
  4. Develop a response: apply planning, policy and monitoring tools.
  5. Plan the next steps: decide what needs refining and how the learning will be used.
A problem tree built by training participants from their own institution’s challenge, tracing the causes and effects of hospital-acquired infections
Step 2 in practice: participants map the causes and effects of a real problem from their own institution.

Programmes

  • Evidence-Based Policymaking and Implementation: problem analysis, the policy cycle, evidence search and appraisal, policy options, theory of change, and barriers to evidence use. Now includes a module on artificial intelligence: the policy issues it raises, and practical use of AI for development and business growth.
  • Applied research for decision-makers: research questions, study design, mixed methods, evidence interpretation and research quality, linked to the decisions an organisation needs to make.
  • Planning, theory of change and logframes: problem analysis, results chains, theories of change, logical frameworks and indicators.
  • Monitoring and evaluation: from an introduction to M&E through to practitioner level, including indicators, data analysis and reporting, and managing and commissioning evaluations.
  • AI for policy, development and business: the policy questions AI raises (accuracy, bias, transparency, confidentiality, accountability, jobs and inclusion), and hands-on practice in using AI for evidence gathering, analysis, option development and drafting, and to support development programmes and business growth. AI can assist the work; judgement and responsibility stay with the people using it.
  • Tailored programmes: cases, evidence and exercises adapted to your mandate, sector and context.

What participants leave with

Depending on the programme, working outputs can include a framed problem statement, an evidence-search and appraisal plan, a policy-options matrix or draft theory of change, indicators and monitoring arrangements, a policy-brief structure or responsible-AI checklist, and an action plan.

Designed for adult learners

Sessions combine short inputs with facilitated group work, peer exchange, applied exercises and reflection. Participants use the tools on real cases rather than meeting them only in theory.

Delivery shaped around your needs

Short courses, tailored workshops or facilitated technical sessions, in person or online. Before delivery, we agree the learning objectives, participant profile, case material and expected outputs.

What does your team need to work through?

Tell us about your organisation, the participants and the challenge you want the learning to address.

Enquire about training