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CERP Learning Hub Courses 2026-2027

Fast-track your analytical and strategic expertise with CERP Learning Hub’s 2026-2027 programs. Whether you are building core capabilities through our 1-day online Foundation Courses or mastering high-stakes decision-making in our 2-day in-person Masterclasses, each offering pairs rigorous empirical methods with hands-on application to help you lead in an evolving landscape.

Upcoming Courses

  1. Masterclasses

Smart Policy for Practitioners | 11–12 November 2026

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Smart Policy for Practitioners

Bridge the gap between evidence and action through our Smart Policy for Practitioners masterclass. Taking place at CERP, Lahore, from November 11th to 12th, 2026, this two day, in depth course brings senior practitioners together to examine where research evidence succeeds, and fails, at driving real policy change. Participants will learn to tell technically sound evidence apart from politically actionable evidence, evaluate policy proposals on political feasibility as well as technical merit, and apply a stakeholder influence mapping exercise to a live or recent issue. The course closes with participants constructing a short policy translation pitch, converting a research finding into an actionable recommendation for a named decision maker.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Analyze a real policy case to identify where evidence did or didn't translate into actual policy change
  2. Differentiate between technically sound evidence and politically actionable evidence in a given scenario
  3. Evaluate a policy proposal against criteria for political feasibility, not just technical merit
  4. Apply a stakeholder-influence mapping exercise to a live or recent policy issue
  5. Construct a short policy translation pitch converting a research finding into an actionable recommendation for a named decision-maker

Deadlines:

  • Early Bird: 23 October 2026
  • Regular: 2nd November 2026

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Advanced Econometrics for Impact Evaluation | 17–18 February 2027

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Advanced Econometrics for Impact Evaluation

Designed for researchers, analysts, and monitoring and evaluation professionals, the Advanced Econometrics for Impact Evaluation masterclass provides an applied deep dive into the econometric techniques used to estimate causal impact. This two day, in depth course, taking place at CERP Lahore from February 17th to 18th, 2027, goes beyond a methods survey. Participants will assess whether a study's identification strategy credibly isolates cause and effect, differentiate econometric methods including RCTs, difference in differences, regression discontinuity, and instrumental variables based on their underlying assumptions and appropriate use cases, and apply an appropriate method to a structured practice dataset. The course closes with participants reviewing a peer's evaluation design and proposing a specific methodological improvement.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Analyze the identification strategy of a real impact evaluation study to assess whether it credibly isolates causal effect
  2. Differentiate between common econometric methods (e.g., RCTs, diff-in-diff, RDD, IV) based on their underlying assumptions and appropriate use cases
  3. Evaluate the robustness of a study's results by identifying likely threats to its assumptions
  4. Apply an appropriate econometric method to a structured practice dataset or case exercise
  5. Critique a peer's (or provided) evaluation design and propose a specific methodological improvement

Deadlines:

  • Early Bird: 27-Jan-27
  • Regular: 10-Feb-27

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Gender, Inclusion & Evidence in Program Design | 28–29 April 2027

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Gender, Inclusion & Evidence in Program Design

Inclusive policies require inclusive evidence. The Gender, Inclusion, and Social Protection Evidence masterclass explores how data and research can be used to identify inequalities, evaluate social protection programs, and inform policies that leave no one behind. This two day, in depth course, taking place at CERP Lahore from April 28th to 29th, 2027, brings gender and social protection specialists together to examine whether program designs genuinely account for gendered barriers to access, and to tell gender blind, gender sensitive, and gender transformative approaches apart using real examples. Participants will evaluate the evidence base behind an inclusion focused intervention for its weaknesses, apply an inclusion audit framework to a real or sample program, and propose a specific, evidence backed design adjustment to improve outcomes.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Analyze how a given social protection program design accounts for (or fails to account for) gendered barriers to access
  2. Differentiate between gender-blind, gender-sensitive, and gender-transformative program design, using concrete examples
  3. Evaluate the evidence base behind a specific inclusion-focused intervention for methodological or contextual weaknesses
  4. Apply an inclusion-audit framework to a real or sample program design
  5. Propose one specific design adjustment to improve a program's gender/inclusion outcomes, grounded in evidence discussed during the session

Deadlines:

  • Early Bird: 7-Apr-27
  • Regular: 21-Apr-27

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  1. Foundation Courses

Fundamentals of Impact Evaluation | 30 September 2026

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Fundamentals of Impact Evaluation

Impact measurement starts here.

Build a strong foundation in monitoring, evaluation, and learning through the Fundamentals of Impact Evaluation training. Scheduled for 30th September 2026, this online, day-long course introduces participants to the distinct roles of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEAL) within program design, along with practical frameworks for evaluation, indicator development, and impact measurement. Participants will leave equipped to construct theories of change, select and justify indicators, and critically assess evaluation plans to strengthen program design and efficiency across sectors.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Understand the difference between Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEAL) and how outputs, outcomes, and impact fit into each
  2. Compare experimental and non-experimental evaluation designs and judge which fits a given program constraint
  3. Construct a basic theory of change for a sample program
  4. Select and justify indicators against SMART-type criteria for a real-world scenario
  5. Critique a provided evaluation plan and propose one concrete revision, defending the trade-off involved

Deadlines:

  • Early Bird: 15 September 2026
  • Regular: 23 September 2026

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Data, Ethics and AI | 21 October 2026

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Data, Ethics and AI

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into decision-making, understanding its ethical implications is more important than ever.

Join our course on Data, Ethics & AI, scheduled for October 21st, 2026. This online, day-long training goes beyond theory where participants will examine real AI use cases to identify where bias can enter a system, learn to distinguish privacy risk from ethical risk, and apply a practical ethical-review checklist to a real dataset or tool. Through a structured debate on the trade-off between speed and safeguards, participants will leave with one concrete step they can apply to a real risk in their own work.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Analyze a real or hypothetical AI use case to surface where bias could enter the pipeline (data, model, deployment)
  2. Differentiate between privacy risk and ethical risk in a data workflow, using concrete examples
  3. Apply an ethical-review checklist to a dataset or tool and identify specific gaps
  4. Debate the efficiency-vs-safeguard trade-off in a structured group exercise, taking and defending a position
  5. Propose one practical mitigation for a bias or privacy risk identified during the session

Deadlines:

  • Early Bird: 30 September 2026
  • Regular: 14 October 2026

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Introduction to Research Methods | 25 November 2026

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Introduction to Research Methods

Develop the skills to design and conduct rigorous research through our training on Introduction to Research Methods. An online, day-long course held on November 25th, 2026, this immersive session equips participants with practical knowledge of research design and sampling strategy while also building the critical skills to choose the right method for a given research question and spot weaknesses in existing study designs. Participants will leave having drafted a mini research proposal outline and evaluated a real published study to identify its strongest limitation.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Match a given research question to the most defensible method (qualitative, quantitative, mixed), justifying the choice
  2. Diagnose threats to validity and reliability in a sample study design
  3. Design a basic sampling strategy for a stated research objective
  4. Apply core research design principles to draft a mini research proposal outline
  5. Evaluate a real published study's methodology and identify its strongest limitation

Deadlines:

  • Early Bird: 4 November 2026
  • Regular: 18 November 2026

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Python for Everyone | 29 December 2026

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Python for Everyone

Whether you're new to coding or looking to build technical confidence, our Python for Everyone course offers a practical starting point. Held on December 29th, 2026, this online, day-long workshop gives participants hands-on experience with Python including writing simple scripts to clean and work with data, using libraries like pandas to handle real datasets, and building basic visualizations. Participants will also learn to read and debug code, a foundational skill for working confidently with Python beyond the workshop.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify basic Python syntax, data types, and structures
  2. Write simple scripts to perform data manipulation tasks
  3. Apply Python libraries (e.g., pandas) to import and clean a small dataset
  4. Execute basic data visualization using Python
  5. Debug simple errors in provided code snippets

Deadlines:

  • Early Bird: 8 December 2026
  • Regular: 22 December 2026

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Public Policy Advocacy Foundations | 03 February 2027

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Python for Everyone

Introducing our online Public Policy Advocacy Foundations course on February 3rd, 2027. This day long training equips participants to map stakeholders and power dynamics, identify the right entry point within the policy cycle for a given issue, and build a coalition strategy for a sample campaign. Through the critique of a real world advocacy campaign, participants will examine what drives success or failure in practice, before drafting their own one page advocacy pitch using the session's framing techniques.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Map stakeholders and power dynamics for a real advocacy issue
  2. Analyze a policy issue against the relevant stage of the policy cycle to identify the right entry point for advocacy
  3. Construct a coalition-building strategy for a sample campaign
  4. Critique a real-world advocacy campaign, identifying what drove its success or failure
  5. Draft a one-page advocacy pitch applying the session's framing techniques

Deadlines:

  • Early Bird: 13 January 2027
  • Regular: 27 January 2027

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Generative AI in Data Analysis | 17 March 2027

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Generative AI in Data Analysis

Discover how generative AI is reshaping the way data is analysed and interpreted. Introducing the Generative AI in Data Analysis course on March 17th, 2027. This online, day long training helps participants judge which analytical tasks are genuinely suited to GenAI assistance, apply prompt engineering to get precise, usable output, and run a full mini analysis from data exploration through to summary. Participants will also learn to catch inaccurate or hallucinated output and build a simple QA process to validate GenAI assisted work before relying on it.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Evaluate which analytical tasks are well-suited to GenAI assistance versus those requiring traditional methods
  2. Apply prompt-engineering techniques to extract a specific, usable analytical output from a GenAI tool
  3. Execute an end-to-end mini analysis (data exploration to summary) using a GenAI-assisted workflow
  4. Assess GenAI-generated output for accuracy, hallucination risk, and reliability against a known-answer check
  5. Design a lightweight QA process for validating GenAI-assisted analysis before use

Deadlines:

  • Early Bird: 26 February 2027
  • Regular: 09 March 2027

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Introduction to Project Management | 13 April 2027

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Introduction to Project Management

From planning and resource allocation to execution and delivery, successful projects rely on sound management practices. The Introduction to Project Management course scheduled for April 13th, 2027, is an online, day long training that equips participants to sequence a project lifecycle and map out its dependencies, and apply planning tools such as Gantt charts and RACI matrices to a real project scenario. Participants will also learn to identify the risk factors most likely to derail a project timeline, build a basic mitigation plan, and critique a real project plan to propose a concrete improvement.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Sequence the phases of a project lifecycle for a real project scenario, identifying dependencies
  2. Apply planning tools (e.g., Gantt chart, RACI matrix) to a sample project
  3. Analyze a project scenario to identify the top risk factors likely to derail its timeline
  4. Construct a basic risk-mitigation plan for an identified risk
  5. Critique a real or simulated project plan and propose a concrete improvement

Deadlines:

  • Early Bird: 23 March 2027
  • Regular: 6 April 2027

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Negotiations Skills and Business Development | 26 May 2027

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Negotiations Skills and Business Development

Strengthen your ability to build partnerships, close opportunities, and create lasting value through our Negotiations Skills and Business Development course. Held on May 26th, 2027, this online, day long training helps participants tell interest based negotiation apart from positional bargaining and apply that distinction in a live scenario. Participants will prepare a BATNA and negotiation strategy ahead of a simulated exercise, then practice active listening and framing techniques in a live peer to peer negotiation. The session closes with a look back at what actually shifted a negotiation's outcome, helping participants identify one concrete area to develop in their own style.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Differentiate between interest-based and positional negotiation, applying the distinction to a live scenario
  2. Construct a BATNA and negotiation strategy ahead of a simulated exercise
  3. Apply active-listening and framing techniques in a live peer-to-peer negotiation
  4. Analyze a negotiation outcome (own or observed) to identify what tactic shifted the result
  5. Evaluate personal negotiation style against session frameworks and identify one specific area to develop

Deadlines:

  • Early Bird: 05 May 2027
  • Regular: 19 May 2027

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Pricing & Special Offers

Clear fee breakdown (Standard, Early Bird, and Bundle discounts with pre-calculated totals).

  • Standard Fee: PKR 25,000 (Foundation Courses)/ PKR 60,000 (Master Classes)
  • Early Bird (10% off): PKR 22,500/ PKR 54,000
  • Bundle Deal (15% off): when you enrol in 3 or more courses.

Disclaimer

  1. CERP reserves the right to cancel or postpone any program if enrolment falls short or unforeseen circumstances arise. Should this happen, the registration fee will be refunded in full; however, CERP cannot cover any additional costs incurred by participants, including airline or travel agency cancellation and rebooking fees.
  2. If a program is postponed rather than cancelled, participants may choose to carry their fee forward to the rescheduled session or apply it toward a different CERP program instead of requesting a refund. Program policies and fees are subject to change at CERP’s discretion.