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NORC at the University Chicago

Alicia Menendez

Pronouns: She/Her

Principal Research Scientist
International Programs
Alicia has extensive experience in evaluations of education, health, labor markets, and household behavior programs.

Alicia is an economist with over 20 years of experience conducting evaluation research in education, health, labor markets and household behavior in developing countries. She has designed and managed numerous quantitative (experimental and quasi-experimental design) impact evaluations and overseen household surveys with large data collection teams. She also has participated in qualitative data collection efforts using traditional and innovative techniques.

Alicia was the Principal Investigator on USAID’s Reading and Access Evaluation Projects, a $25 million endeavor that evaluated the impact and cost effectiveness of USAID-funded projects aimed at improving reading and at increasing equitable access to education in fragile and conflict-affected environments. She also served as the Impact Evaluation Leader for USAID/Uganda Impact and Performance Evaluation of the Literacy Achievement and Retention Activity (LARA) in Uganda that focuses on early grade reading and school related gender based violence (SRGBV) in primary institutions.

Alicia has published her research and evaluation work in many peer-reviewed journals and has taught numerous courses for undergraduate and graduate students, executive programs, government officials, practitioners, teachers, and others.

Among the countries where Alicia has conducted research and evaluations are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ghana, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, India, Jordan, Malawi, Morocco, Nepal, Mongolia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

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Expertise

Education

PhD

Boston University

MA

Universidad Torcuato Di Tella

BA

Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires

Appointments & Affiliations

Research Associate Professor

University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy

Project Contributions

LARA Performance and Impact Evaluation in Uganda

Evaluating an early-grade reading and violence reduction program on learning and retention

Client:

U.S. Agency for International Development

Reading & Access Evaluations

Generating evidence to inform USAID’s early grade reading and access to education programs

Client:

U.S. Agency for International Development

Read Liberia Program Impact Evaluation

Our impact evaluation finds high-quality materials are key to improving reading outcomes

Client:

U.S. Agency for International Development

Tusome Early-Grade Reading Evaluation

Translating USAID-funded pilot programs into national-scale initiatives

Client:

U.S. Agency for International Development

Publications

Research Library & Findings