Kirthi Rao

Kirthi Rao
Designation: Former, Evidence Impact Specialist, 3ie
Kirthi was an Evidence impact specialist worked on evidence use and impact at 3ie’s Strategic Communication Office. Her work involved tracking and verifying the contributions of 3ie-supported research.

Blogs by author

Evidence impact: Increasing immunization rates by engaging community leaders

Paul Thissen, Kirthi Rao 10 June 2021 blog  
In Nigeria, as in much of the developing world, many children never receive their full set of recommended immunizations. Even among children who receive some vaccinations, not all return for subsequent doses or later shots. In 2019, only 57 percent of infants in Nigeria completed their three-shot course of the DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine.

Evidence impact: Claiming the influence of studies with confidence

Kirthi Rao, Paul Thissen 27 May 2021 blog  

In a previous blog, we described our definition of 'evidence impact.' Now, given how messy the decision-making process can be in the real world, how can we be sure that a study and its findings made an impact?

Evidence Impact: Residents use drones and apps to protect the Ecuadorian Amazon

Paul Thissen, Kirthi Rao 22 April 2021 blog  
In the Ecuadorian Amazon, a highly biodiverse tropical rainforest, more than 3,000 active oil wells pose threats to both the people and wildlife who live there. In addition to accidental oil spills, these wells' operators sometimes intentionally discharge toxic byproducts of the oil production process into streams and rivers.

Evidence impact: Seven ways that development decision makers use evidence

Kirthi Rao 11 March 2021 blog  
Given the variety of ways in which evidence is taken up and used, we found that ‘you will know evidence uptake and use when you see it’ is not a good enough standard. We are in the business of evidence, not anecdotes. So, we developed a detailed typology of the ways decision-makers take up and use research evidence, particularly findings and lessons from impact evaluations.

Evidence Impact: South Africa finds an effective way to teach children to read better

Paul Thissen, Deeksha Ahuja, Kirthi Rao 16 February 2021 blog  
In 2019, as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his State of the Nation address, one of his new policy announcements was the expansion of a program aimed at helping children learn to read.