Incorporating Behavioral Science in USAID Economic Analysis

USAID’s Learning, Evaluation, and Analysis Project (LEAP III) team collaborated with the Economics team within the Center for Economics and Market Development (EMD/E) to achieve learning objectives related to incorporating behavioral science into the analytical support, activity management support, trainings, and tools it provides to USAID Missions and Operating Units. The study is designed to inform the four learning objectives related to:

• Improving the usefulness of EMD/E tools and technical support for Mission staff
• Encouraging experimental evaluations of behaviorally informed interventions
• Learning about behavioral tools and guidelines from other development organizations and agencies
• Integrating behavioral science concepts into EMD/E economic analysis tools

The full report contains 11 recommendations based on insights from key internal and external informants synthesized with findings from a scan of over 450 research studies and other publications. Each recommendation provides concrete examples of steps that EMD/E and partners within USAID can take to implement it.