The evaluation of an intermediate impact on organizational performance allows to explain a program’s success or failure, which can be more important than identifying ultimate outcomes at the farm-household level (as in this case).
Integrating gender into a small-scale cotton development programILRI
Presented by Rekha Mehra at the Gender and Market Oriented Agriculture (AgriGender 2011) Workshop, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 31st January–2nd February 2011
Integrating gender into a small-scale cotton development programILRI
Presented by Rekha Mehra at the Gender and Market Oriented Agriculture (AgriGender 2011) Workshop, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 31st January–2nd February 2011
The Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index – What have we learned?IFPRI-PIM
Webinar #6 in the series of PIM 2017 Monthly Webinars. See abstract here: http://bit.ly/WEAIwebinar.
Presented on November 17, 2017, by Hazel Malapit (IFPRI) and Cheryl Doss (Oxford University)
Improving Research Engagement to Support Policy and Institutional ChangeIFPRI-PIM
Webinar recorded on 23 Sept. 2020, co-organized by the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM), the CGIAR Research Program on Fish Agri-Food Systems, and Collaborating for Resilience (CoRe).
Too often, research aiming to inform public policies or strengthen institutions for effective policy implementation remains disconnected from the real political economy of policy and institutional reform. This webinar introduces a new rubric to assess opportunities for research partnerships that navigate this complex terrain of power and leverage sometimes unexpected spaces of engagement.
Full recording at https://bit.ly/2GFIdx1.
Working together to achieve Zero Hunger: the central role of cooperatives in ...May Hani
In the context of Agenda 2030 SDG on Achieving Zero Hunger, the presentation provides an overview on the challenges facing small-scale agri-food producers and the rural poor, and the potential role of cooperatives and producer organizations in this respect. It illustrates a pathway for change depicting the central role of cooperatives in service provision and market access, promoting collective economic action and lobbying for change. Presented at the Alliance Africa, Cooperative Leaders/Managers & Ministerial Conference Technical Committee Meeting , 28 - 31 May 2018At: Maputo, Mozambique. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Study: Gender & the Moral Economy of Sweetpotato Vines in Lake Zone, TanzaniaIFPRI-PIM
This presentation was given by Margaret McEwan (CIP), as part of the Capacity Development Workshop hosted by the CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research. The event took place on 7-8 December 2017 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the Platform is hosted (by KIT Royal Tropical Institute).
Read more: http://gender.cgiar.org/gender_events/annual-scientific-conference-capacity-development-workshop-cgiar-collaborative-platform-gender-research/
APPLE-PRODUCING FAMILY FARMS IN SOUTH TYROL: AN AGRICULTURE INNOVATION CASE S...May Hani
Small-scale apple production in South Tyrol, Italy, illustrates a dynamic agriculture innovation process geared towards integrating small-scale apple producers in a highly productive and profitable system. The presentation provided an overview of the FAO paper on small-scale apple producing family farms in South Tyrol, developed and presented as a case study for the EU funded project: Support of Learning and Innovation Networks for Sustainable Agriculture - SOLINSA. Presented at the INTERPOMA 2014, Bolzano - Italy, 20-22 November 2014. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Empowerment in agricultural value chains: Mixed methods evidence from the Phi...CGIAR
This presentation was given by Catherine Ragassa (International Food Policy Research Institute), as part of the Annual Scientific Conference hosted by the University of Canberra and co-sponsored by the University of Canberra, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research. The event took place on April 2-4, 2019 in Canberra, Australia.
Read more: https://www.canberra.edu.au/research/faculty-research-centres/aisc/seeds-of-change and https://gender.cgiar.org/annual-conference-2019/
Nearly 70 individuals joined us on March 12 celebrating Global Money Week and engaging with representatives from AGFUND and Child & Youth Finance International on ways to include children and youth in work towards the end of poverty.
Speakers:
Nasser Al-Khatani, Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND)
Jared Penner, Child & Youth Finance International
Ignacio Bianco, Child & Youth Finance International
Jesse Marsden, Microcredit Summit Campaign (Moderator)
Accounting for gender-related structures of agricultural value chainsIFPRI-PIM
Presentation by Tanguy Bernard, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI, made during the “International value chains in agriculture: challenges and opportunities to address gender inequalities” session at the WTO PUBLIC FORUM 2016
Assessing Institutional Innovations to promote women-led informal seed system...IFPRI-PIM
This presentation was given by Ranjitha Puskur (IRRI), as part of the Capacity Development Workshop hosted by the CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research. The event took place on 7-8 December 2017 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the Platform is hosted (by KIT Royal Tropical Institute).
Read more: http://gender.cgiar.org/gender_events/annual-scientific-conference-capacity-development-workshop-cgiar-collaborative-platform-gender-research/
A presentation given at the MEAS Private-Public Extension Event during the 2015 MEAS Symposium, by Miguel Gomez, Benjamin Mueller, and Mary Kate Wheeler
Climate resilience and job prospects for young people in agricultureIFPRI-PIM
Climate change matters for all people. Does it matter particularly for young people? If so, where and how?
PIM Webinar, February 7, 2019.
Presenters: Karen Brooks, Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University and Keith Wiebe, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI.
For more information, slides, and podcast visit http://bit.ly/CRJYwebr
Presented by Emily Ouma, Robert Ochago, Michel Dione, Rosemirta Birungi and Peter Lule at the World Congress on Innovations for Livestock Development, Nakuru, Kenya, 26-30 June 2016
Working together to achieve Zero Hunger: the central role of cooperatives in ...May Hani
Under the Alliance Africa MCTC Conference theme of Cooperatives for Zero Hunger in Africa, the presentation addressed the question of "How can private sector, CSOs, UN Agencies and National Authorities co-operate to achieve SDG2-Zero Hunger. It specifically focused on leveraging the role of cooperatives in small-scale agriculture for achieving zero hunger and reducing poverty, outlining the pathway for change and key messages gleaned from an ongoing FAO study on producer organizations in service provision and market access. The presentation was made at the ICA-Africa "Cooperative Leaders/Managers and Ministerial Conference Technical Committee (MCTC) meeting", held in Maputo, Mozambique, from 29-30 May 2019.
The Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index – What have we learned?IFPRI-PIM
Webinar #6 in the series of PIM 2017 Monthly Webinars. See abstract here: http://bit.ly/WEAIwebinar.
Presented on November 17, 2017, by Hazel Malapit (IFPRI) and Cheryl Doss (Oxford University)
Improving Research Engagement to Support Policy and Institutional ChangeIFPRI-PIM
Webinar recorded on 23 Sept. 2020, co-organized by the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM), the CGIAR Research Program on Fish Agri-Food Systems, and Collaborating for Resilience (CoRe).
Too often, research aiming to inform public policies or strengthen institutions for effective policy implementation remains disconnected from the real political economy of policy and institutional reform. This webinar introduces a new rubric to assess opportunities for research partnerships that navigate this complex terrain of power and leverage sometimes unexpected spaces of engagement.
Full recording at https://bit.ly/2GFIdx1.
Working together to achieve Zero Hunger: the central role of cooperatives in ...May Hani
In the context of Agenda 2030 SDG on Achieving Zero Hunger, the presentation provides an overview on the challenges facing small-scale agri-food producers and the rural poor, and the potential role of cooperatives and producer organizations in this respect. It illustrates a pathway for change depicting the central role of cooperatives in service provision and market access, promoting collective economic action and lobbying for change. Presented at the Alliance Africa, Cooperative Leaders/Managers & Ministerial Conference Technical Committee Meeting , 28 - 31 May 2018At: Maputo, Mozambique. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Study: Gender & the Moral Economy of Sweetpotato Vines in Lake Zone, TanzaniaIFPRI-PIM
This presentation was given by Margaret McEwan (CIP), as part of the Capacity Development Workshop hosted by the CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research. The event took place on 7-8 December 2017 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the Platform is hosted (by KIT Royal Tropical Institute).
Read more: http://gender.cgiar.org/gender_events/annual-scientific-conference-capacity-development-workshop-cgiar-collaborative-platform-gender-research/
APPLE-PRODUCING FAMILY FARMS IN SOUTH TYROL: AN AGRICULTURE INNOVATION CASE S...May Hani
Small-scale apple production in South Tyrol, Italy, illustrates a dynamic agriculture innovation process geared towards integrating small-scale apple producers in a highly productive and profitable system. The presentation provided an overview of the FAO paper on small-scale apple producing family farms in South Tyrol, developed and presented as a case study for the EU funded project: Support of Learning and Innovation Networks for Sustainable Agriculture - SOLINSA. Presented at the INTERPOMA 2014, Bolzano - Italy, 20-22 November 2014. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Empowerment in agricultural value chains: Mixed methods evidence from the Phi...CGIAR
This presentation was given by Catherine Ragassa (International Food Policy Research Institute), as part of the Annual Scientific Conference hosted by the University of Canberra and co-sponsored by the University of Canberra, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research. The event took place on April 2-4, 2019 in Canberra, Australia.
Read more: https://www.canberra.edu.au/research/faculty-research-centres/aisc/seeds-of-change and https://gender.cgiar.org/annual-conference-2019/
Nearly 70 individuals joined us on March 12 celebrating Global Money Week and engaging with representatives from AGFUND and Child & Youth Finance International on ways to include children and youth in work towards the end of poverty.
Speakers:
Nasser Al-Khatani, Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND)
Jared Penner, Child & Youth Finance International
Ignacio Bianco, Child & Youth Finance International
Jesse Marsden, Microcredit Summit Campaign (Moderator)
Accounting for gender-related structures of agricultural value chainsIFPRI-PIM
Presentation by Tanguy Bernard, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI, made during the “International value chains in agriculture: challenges and opportunities to address gender inequalities” session at the WTO PUBLIC FORUM 2016
Assessing Institutional Innovations to promote women-led informal seed system...IFPRI-PIM
This presentation was given by Ranjitha Puskur (IRRI), as part of the Capacity Development Workshop hosted by the CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research. The event took place on 7-8 December 2017 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the Platform is hosted (by KIT Royal Tropical Institute).
Read more: http://gender.cgiar.org/gender_events/annual-scientific-conference-capacity-development-workshop-cgiar-collaborative-platform-gender-research/
A presentation given at the MEAS Private-Public Extension Event during the 2015 MEAS Symposium, by Miguel Gomez, Benjamin Mueller, and Mary Kate Wheeler
Climate resilience and job prospects for young people in agricultureIFPRI-PIM
Climate change matters for all people. Does it matter particularly for young people? If so, where and how?
PIM Webinar, February 7, 2019.
Presenters: Karen Brooks, Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University and Keith Wiebe, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI.
For more information, slides, and podcast visit http://bit.ly/CRJYwebr
Presented by Emily Ouma, Robert Ochago, Michel Dione, Rosemirta Birungi and Peter Lule at the World Congress on Innovations for Livestock Development, Nakuru, Kenya, 26-30 June 2016
Working together to achieve Zero Hunger: the central role of cooperatives in ...May Hani
Under the Alliance Africa MCTC Conference theme of Cooperatives for Zero Hunger in Africa, the presentation addressed the question of "How can private sector, CSOs, UN Agencies and National Authorities co-operate to achieve SDG2-Zero Hunger. It specifically focused on leveraging the role of cooperatives in small-scale agriculture for achieving zero hunger and reducing poverty, outlining the pathway for change and key messages gleaned from an ongoing FAO study on producer organizations in service provision and market access. The presentation was made at the ICA-Africa "Cooperative Leaders/Managers and Ministerial Conference Technical Committee (MCTC) meeting", held in Maputo, Mozambique, from 29-30 May 2019.
Methods for studying gender dynamics in value chains beyond the production no...IFPRI-PIM
PIM Webinar recorded on Oct. 28, 2021. Presenters: Jessica Leight (IFPRI); Emily Gallagher (CIFOR); and Kate Ambler (IFPRI). More information at https://bit.ly/GDVCweb
Examining Actors in Privately-led Extension in Developing CountriesKathryn Heinz
Presented at the 2nd Annual International Conference on Global Food Security. October 14, 2015. By Miguel Gomez, Benjamin Mueller, and Mary Kate Wheeler
Organizing for our Collective Success Presented by the National Young Farmers...DiegoFooter
How young farmers are advocating for–and building–a better food system. Over 400 million acres of agricultural land will change hands in the next twenty years — how will we ensure we don’t lose a generation of farmers in the transition?
Using Social Network Analysis to Capture Partnership Qualities of a Community...JSI
Mass in Motion (MiM) is a statewide movement that promotes opportunities for healthy eating and active living through 27 community-based grantees that promote local policy, systems and environmental (PSE) change in over 60 communities across Massachusetts. A key to advancing the work and building sustainability is through collaboration with partners across multiple sectors. A social network analysis of these multi-sector partnerships was conducted to identify characteristics associated with quality partnerships and best practices in partnership engagement.
A two-part survey that included both validated scales and newly created items to capture grantee-level characteristics (Part I) and partner-level characteristics and quality measures (Part II) was administered to each MiM grantee. Social network analyses, multivariate linear regression, and data visualization tools (Gephi and Tabluea software) were used to determine predictors of successful partnerships and high-functioning grantees.
Grantees identified 335 multi-sector partners. The overall quality of partnerships was positively correlated with: average number of strategies employed by partner, level of coalition functioning, operational oversight by city health department, and grantee years funded (p<0.05). Grantee ability to leverage additional funding was positively correlated with: grantee staff capacity, belonging to a formal coalition, and total number of partners (p<0.05). Network visualizations yielded information on the structural and relational qualities (i.e. centrality, connectivity, degree) among grantees and partners. Interactive data visualization complemented the results by depicting changes in partnership composition over time. Conclusion Network analysis can be applied to robustly capture relational qualities such as degree, density, and centralization in community-based public health initiatives.
Prepared by:
Lead Authors
Walter de Boef, Marja Thijssen, Boudy van Schagen, and Tom van Mourik
Contributors
Tofa Abdullahi, Godwin Atser, Isabelle Baltenweck, Jens-Peter Barnekow Lillesø, Zewdie Bishaw, Elohor Diebiru-Ojo, Carlo Fadda, Alessandra Galie, Sita Ghimire, Lars Graudal, Aynalem Haile, Jon Hellin, Ramni Jamnadas, Alpha Kamara, Karen Marshall, Margaret McEwan, Adamu Molla, Baloua Nebie, Kwame Ogero, Chris Ojiewo, Lucky Omoigui, Michael Peters, Srinivasulu Rajendran, Cristiano Rossignoli, Lateef Sanni, Kelvin Mashisia Shikuku, Reuben Solomon, David Spielman, Abiro Tigabie, and Aboubacar Toure
Top Considerations for Global Employee Volunteering & Pro Bono Engagement - F...VolunteerMatch
Approaching employee volunteering from a holistic perspective is a must. But with so many different types of volunteer programs out there, how should a company approach pro bono when it decides to go international?
Join VolunteerMatch's Vicky Hush, Daniel Elliot of PYXERA Global and Michelle Langley of Dow for a discussion on what to consider before launching your global skills-based volunteer program. From in-country to virtual assignments, to one-time events, learn how to implement these strategies for your employees the smart way. Walk away from this webinar understanding how to ensure your employees stay safe and how cultural differences and traditions play into your plan.
Whether you're just starting out or already have an international volunteer program, this one-hour webinar will help you to plan or re-think your strategies to make your programs even more impactful.
Speakers:
Daniel Elliott
Key Client Manager
PYXERA Global
Michelle Langley
Program Leader
Dow Sustainability Corps/Global Disaster Relief/STEM
Vicky Hush
Vice President, Strategic Partnerships
VolunteerMatch
Follow the conversation on Twitter @VM_Solutions, #VMbpn
Critical evaluation of rural development policies and programmes.pptxLOKESH R
This presentation provides a critical evaluation of rural development policies and programmes implemented in various parts of the world. It explores the challenges and limitations of these policies, and examines their effectiveness in addressing the needs and priorities of rural communities.
The presentation begins by defining rural development and highlighting its significance in promoting economic growth and reducing poverty in rural areas. It then discusses various rural development policies and programmes, including those aimed at improving infrastructure, promoting agricultural development, and providing social services to rural communities.
The presentation also critically evaluates these policies and programmes, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. It discusses the limitations of top-down approaches to rural development, the importance of community participation, and the need for policies that address the root causes of poverty in rural areas.
In addition, the presentation examines the role of international organizations, NGOs, and local governments in promoting rural development. It discusses the challenges of coordinating and implementing development efforts, and the need for partnerships and collaboration among stakeholders.
Overall, this presentation provides a comprehensive and critical evaluation of rural development policies and programmes, and offers insights and recommendations for improving their effectiveness in promoting sustainable rural development.
Resumen del caso exitoso de aplicación de la metodología LINK en la cadena de valor de la miel para lograr un modelo de negocio inclusivo entre COAPIHL y Supermecados El Corral, realizado en el marco del proyecto entre la fundación FORD y Heifer Internacional: Mujeres Rurales en Camino hacia la Prosperidad.
Esta publicación hace parte de una serie de guías metodológicases que son el resultado del Ciclo de Aprendizaje 2008-2010 para el Fortalecimiento de Organizaciones de Productores y Productoras, desarrollado por las organizaciones que hacen parte de la Alianza de Aprendizaje en Nicaragua.
La Guía 4 tiene como propósito apoyar a las organizaciones de productores y productoras en la elaboración de planes de negocio completos, a partir de su plan de fortalecimiento socio-organizativo (Guía metodológica 2 de esta serie) y su plan estratégico (Guía metodológica 3 de esta serie), los cuales les permitan gestionar efectivamente sus procesos de implementación, y a la vez gestionar los recursos de inversión necesarios para su ejecución. Con este fin, se incluye una herramienta informática que permite compatibilizar estos tres planes, y a partir de esto, elaborar el documento del plan de negocio.
Esta publicación es el resultado del trabajo de la Alianza de Aprendizaje en Nicaragua durante el periodo 2008-2010. En su contenido se narran las historias de cambio de 23 organizaciones que con esfuerzo y compromiso trabajan para mejorar el nivel de vida de sus comunidades.
Esta publicación es el resultado de los Ciclos de Aprendizaje (2008–2012), desarrollados por
las organizaciones que hacen parte de la Alianza de Aprendizaje en Nicaragua, para el
Fortalecimiento de Organizaciones de Productores y Productoras.
La guía 5 tiene como propósito apoyar a las organizaciones de productores y productoras en la elaboración de un plan para el fortalecimiento y/o establecimiento de servicios (técnicos, empresariales, financieros y organizativos) complementarios al plan de negocio de la empresa asociativa rural, tanto para aquellos ofrecidos directamente por la organización, como aquellos ofrecidos por terceros a partir de alianzas con proveedores externos de servicios.
Esta publicación hace parte de una serie de cuatro guías metodológicas que son el resultado de los Ciclos de Aprendizaje (2008–2012), desarrollados por
las organizaciones que hacen parte de la Alianza de Aprendizaje en Nicaragua, para el
Fortalecimiento de Organizaciones de Productores y Productoras.
La guía 3 busca fortalecer las capacidades de las personas que conforman
las estructuras directivas y operativas de empresas asociativas rurales (cooperativas o
asociaciones de productores y productoras) ,y de sus proveedores de servicios empresariales (ej.
uniones de cooperativas, organizaciones gremiales, ONG o fundaciones locales, técnicos y
técnicas locales) para definir concertadamente y revisar (periódicamente y de forma
participativa) su visión estratégica.
Esta publicación hace parte de una serie de cuatro guías metodológicas que son resultado del Ciclo de Aprendizaje 2008-2010 para el Fortalecimiento de Organizaciones de Productores y Productoras, desarrollado por las organizaciones que hacen parte de la Alianza de Aprendizaje en Nicaragua.
La Guía 2 tiene como propósito apoyar a las empresas asociativas rurales para desarrollar procesos de fortalecimiento de su gestión socio-organizativa [que sustenta su desarrollo], mediante una propuesta metodológica que permita la reflexión colectiva sobre el modelo de gestión organizacional de la organización, y los efectos de este modelo en su desempeño.
Esta publicación hace parte de una serie de guías metodológicases que son el resultado del Ciclo de Aprendizaje 2008-2010 para el Fortalecimiento de Organizaciones de Productores y Productoras, desarrollado por las organizaciones que hacen parte de la Alianza de Aprendizaje en Nicaragua.
Este documento contiene resúmenes de los pilotajes realizados dentro del proyecto Gestión de conocimiento para el desarrollo de la cadena de valor (K4).
El proyecto desarrolló una propuesta metodológica
para el diseño de sistemas de gestión de información
que permitan dinamizar la gestión del conocimiento al
interior de organizaciones de productores, y entre
estas organizaciones y otros actores de la cadena. Esta
metodología fue aplicada, con los ajustes necesarios
de acuerdo al contexto, por el equipo del proyecto,
con las cadenas de café y frijol en Nicaragua, y las
cadenas de hortalizas y miel en Honduras. A partir de allí, se diseñaron y priorizaron cinco propuestas piloto
(o pilotajes) para implementar procesos que buscan
promover la gestión del conocimiento y dinamizar el
flujo de información entre los actores de estas
cadenas.
El proyecto inició en abril de 2011, es co-financiado por
el Centro Internacional de Investigación para el
Desarrollo (IDRC, por sus siglas en inglés), coordinado
por el Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y
Enseñanza (CATIE) e implementado en alianza con el
Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), el
Programa Pymerural facilitado por la Fundación Suiza
para la Cooperación Técnica (Swisscontact), Catholic
Relief Services (CRS) y la Organización de los Países
Bajos para el Desarrollo (SNV).
Levelwise PageRank with Loop-Based Dead End Handling Strategy : SHORT REPORT ...Subhajit Sahu
Abstract — Levelwise PageRank is an alternative method of PageRank computation which decomposes the input graph into a directed acyclic block-graph of strongly connected components, and processes them in topological order, one level at a time. This enables calculation for ranks in a distributed fashion without per-iteration communication, unlike the standard method where all vertices are processed in each iteration. It however comes with a precondition of the absence of dead ends in the input graph. Here, the native non-distributed performance of Levelwise PageRank was compared against Monolithic PageRank on a CPU as well as a GPU. To ensure a fair comparison, Monolithic PageRank was also performed on a graph where vertices were split by components. Results indicate that Levelwise PageRank is about as fast as Monolithic PageRank on the CPU, but quite a bit slower on the GPU. Slowdown on the GPU is likely caused by a large submission of small workloads, and expected to be non-issue when the computation is performed on massive graphs.
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Empowering the Data Analytics Ecosystem: A Laser Focus on Value
The data analytics ecosystem thrives when every component functions at its peak, unlocking the true potential of data. Here's a laser focus on key areas for an empowered ecosystem:
1. Democratize Access, Not Data:
Granular Access Controls: Provide users with self-service tools tailored to their specific needs, preventing data overload and misuse.
Data Catalogs: Implement robust data catalogs for easy discovery and understanding of available data sources.
2. Foster Collaboration with Clear Roles:
Data Mesh Architecture: Break down data silos by creating a distributed data ownership model with clear ownership and responsibilities.
Collaborative Workspaces: Utilize interactive platforms where data scientists, analysts, and domain experts can work seamlessly together.
3. Leverage Advanced Analytics Strategically:
AI-powered Automation: Automate repetitive tasks like data cleaning and feature engineering, freeing up data talent for higher-level analysis.
Right-Tool Selection: Strategically choose the most effective advanced analytics techniques (e.g., AI, ML) based on specific business problems.
4. Prioritize Data Quality with Automation:
Automated Data Validation: Implement automated data quality checks to identify and rectify errors at the source, minimizing downstream issues.
Data Lineage Tracking: Track the flow of data throughout the ecosystem, ensuring transparency and facilitating root cause analysis for errors.
5. Cultivate a Data-Driven Mindset:
Metrics-Driven Performance Management: Align KPIs and performance metrics with data-driven insights to ensure actionable decision making.
Data Storytelling Workshops: Equip stakeholders with the skills to translate complex data findings into compelling narratives that drive action.
Benefits of a Precise Ecosystem:
Sharpened Focus: Precise access and clear roles ensure everyone works with the most relevant data, maximizing efficiency.
Actionable Insights: Strategic analytics and automated quality checks lead to more reliable and actionable data insights.
Continuous Improvement: Data-driven performance management fosters a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
Sustainable Growth: Empowered by data, organizations can make informed decisions to drive sustainable growth and innovation.
By focusing on these precise actions, organizations can create an empowered data analytics ecosystem that delivers real value by driving data-driven decisions and maximizing the return on their data investment.
06-04-2024 - NYC Tech Week - Discussion on Vector Databases, Unstructured Data and AI
Round table discussion of vector databases, unstructured data, ai, big data, real-time, robots and Milvus.
A lively discussion with NJ Gen AI Meetup Lead, Prasad and Procure.FYI's Co-Found
1. Promoting the role of farmer-based organizations
for value chain integration in Ghana:
an impact evaluation based on organizational diagnostics
Nicola Francesconi, CIAT
Fleur Wouterse, IFPRI
2. Did you know?
• the UN declared 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives
• cooperatives play a major role in rural financial and extension services worldwide
• 50% of global agricultural output is marketed through cooperatives
• cooperatives were instrumental for the success of family farms in the US and EU
Coops prevalence
in Africa
% of rural villages
with at least one coop
Senegal 47
Burkina Faso 56
Ethiopia 35
Uganda 31
Recent data from CIAT shows that 80%
of Ugandan bean producers are
members of at least one farmer
organization based on cooperative
values and principles
3. What is a cooperative?
Not an NGO or a parastatal because it is a for profit organization
Not an Investor-Owned Firm (IOF) because it is:
an organization owned and controlled by the individuals benefiting
from its services
or
a user-owned, user-controlled and user-benefitted organization
4. The History of Rural Cooperation in Ghana
(from defensive to offensive)
Time
Market-driven
State-driven
Community-driven Mutuals
Coops
FBOs
Pre-colonial Colonial &
Post Independence
Post Structural
Adjustment
Governance
In 2010:
10,000 FBOs
and growing rapidly…
but informal, at an infant stage
and still uncompetitive
5. How to support the development of FBOs in order to boost
agri-commercialization among Ghanaian farmers?
The MiDA program
• Initial population: 3,052 voluntarily enlisted and surveyed FBOs from target horticulture/maize areas
• Selection criteria: approx. 50 members, women’s equal participation, community-based, recently
established (or re-established), strong leadership
• Intervention: collateral to facilitate FBOs’ access to credit for collective investments to improve
farmers’ vertical integration into value chains (warehouses, vehicles, processing plants, etc.)
• Incentives for participation: starter packs to member farmers (fertilizer, seeds, equipment, cash, etc.)
• Selection outcome: 1,242 FBOs were selected into the program
6. MiDA’s failure:
• Only 269 loans disbursed, for 1,242 participants!!!
• Many FBOs did not apply for a loan
• Many other FBOs were not successful in their application due to the poor
quality of their business plans
• Due to this shortfall the MiDA program was widely considered to have failed
in improving farmers’ commercialization.
To what extent did the program fail (negligible or negative impact)?
And what are the reasons for this failure?
7. Theory of Change
MiDA
Program
Intervention
Negative impact on
organizational
performance
Negative impact
on farmers’
commercialization
No impact on
organizational
performance
The incentives and selection criteria
introduced by the program had either a
negligible or negative intermediate impact
on FBOs’ performance in mobilizing
collective investments, and therefore the
ultimate impact on farmers’
commercialization is also expected to be
either negative or insignificant.
No impact on
farmers’
commercialization
How to test this
theory of change?
8. Impact Evaluation based on Organizational Diagnostics
• The programs’ ultimate impact can be defined and explained on the basis of its
intermediate impact on organizational performance.
• But impact evaluations are usually designed to identify ultimate impacts at the
farm household level, providing little insights about organizational reasons for
success or failure (they identify unique and static impacts for a given place and
point in time)
• Ultimate impacts are also indirectly related to a program and thus their
identification and attribution tends to be uncertain and partial.
• Measuring intermediate impacts on organizational performance has the
potential to identify more directly attributable, holistic and longer term,
behavioral impacts.
• Therefore we adapted impact evaluation techniques to evaluate intermediate
impacts on organizational performance.
9. Data collection
• Survey data on 500 FBOs collected by 17 MSc students using
questionnaires uploaded into smartphones.
• The sample was randomly drawn from the original MiDA list of 3,052
FBOs: all surveyed FBOs wanted to participate (< self-selection bias)!!
• Semi-structured interviews and games with three board members per
FBO to capture: collective investments, participation in the program,
proxies for selection criteria and fixed effects.
11. Risk-game (with three leaders per FBO)
Sequence of the game
• the three board members were separated (no hear, no see)
• they were explained the rules of the game through a demo
• they were asked to pick a risk option from 0 to 7 (Binswanger 1980)
• they were gathered in a central place and a coin was tossed
• players’ individual payoffs were calculated and handed out
• Leadership strength was measured by the average standard deviation
(from the median) of the risk options picked by the three players, i.e.
by the level of homogeneity in leaders’ risk preferences
15. Conclusions
• Likely negative impact on farmers’ commercialization because the:
I. program incentives may have induced shirking among member-farmers
(avoidance to invest in the common cause)
II. program selection strategy failed to promote participation by
older (more consolidated) FBOs with stronger leadership, which
are more likely to develop feasible investment plans
• The evaluation of an intermediate impact on organizational performance
allows to explain a program’s success or failure, which can be more
important than identifying ultimate outcomes at the farm-household level
(as in this case).