The Institute of Policy Analysis and Research (IPAR) is an independent, indigenous and non-partisan private organisation established in 1994. It is a non-profit body mandated to conduct data based social science policy analysis and research, and training, with the aim of improving human welfare. IPAR shares its policy findings with the government of Kenya, its development partners, private sector, and civil society. Indeed over the years, IPAR has built a reputation in translating and packaging technical information into forms that are easily accessible to a broad spectrum of stakeholders including government ministries and departments, local authorities, private sector, parliamentarians, donors, academia and research institutions, civil society organizations, the media, policy advocates and the general public, among others. The Institutes vision is to be a centre of excellence in policy analysis, research and capacity building. The mission of the Institute is to offer objective and evidence-based policy analysis and research outputs to governments, private sector, civil society organisations and development partners; sharpen skills of policy researchers and analysts; and empower communities to hold governments accountable. The mandate of IPAR is to undertake policy analysis, research and capacity building in Kenya and Eastern Africa; while its core values are to conduct scientific evidence-based policy analysis and research.