The main focus of the visit was on methods for selecting respondents for the impact evaluation, with particular attention to the process of identifying an appropriate comparison group. This process required careful consideration of the specific characteristics of the target population, which includes persons with developmental disabilities.
Another important component of the visit was providing practical guidance on the standardized administration of questionnaires with persons with developmental disabilities. Discussions addressed potential challenges that may arise during data collection, strategies for overcoming them, and important ethical guidelines for working with respondents from this highly sensitive population.
Combining the extensive experience of UPNP in working with persons with developmental disabilities with proMENTE’s expertise in research methodology, data collection, and measurement, the teams worked together to adapt the research instruments and refine the data collection approach. This collaboration resulted in the development of a flexible and adaptive model for implementing the data collection process.
On the second day of the visit, this adapted approach was pilot-tested with several respondents from the target population. The pilot provided important information and experience and helped address several open questions, significantly contributing to further improvements in both the research instruments and the data collection methodology.
In addition, proMENTE provided mentoring support to the organization in the process of data entry and coding, ensuring that collected data will be prepared and managed in accordance with research standards. The partners also agreed on the next steps in the data collection process.
Mentoring visits will continue in the coming period, with the next visit planned in Kosovo, as part of the ongoing effort to ensure high-quality and ethically responsible impact evaluation across the region.
