Survey Budget

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Preparing estimated survey budgets is an important component of planning for and designing an impact evaluation. While the final cost of the exercise may depend on bids from research firms; it is important for the research team to have an accurate estimate of data collection costs, to verify that the data strategy is feasible and the study will be well-powered given the research budget.

Guidelines

Step 1: Make a list of things your budget should include

  • Salaries
  • Allowances
  • Equipment
  • Transport
  • Stationery
  • Communication
  • Other

Step 2: Talk to people who have implemented surveys in your setting!

  • How much do they pay for standard survey cost items?
  • How do they organize transport for enumerators? Accommodation?

Add estimated item costs to the list you made

Step 3: Assumptions - Think through how the fieldwork might be organized

  1. surveys/person/day?
  2. teams I can realistically monitor?

time constraints training duration transport: car hire/okada/own bikes?

Step 4: Bring it all together

Link each budget line item with the assumptions and with the standard rates Add a buffer survey days in case there are delays. 15-20% extra is a good idea Budget for contingencies: unanticipated delays, re-training, fuel price hikes Make sure to take into account gross versus net budgeting, there may be country related administrative costs (i.e. taxes) that you have forgotten.

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This article is part of the topic Survey Firm Procurement


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