AusAID completion reporting
October 2006

AusAID has contracted EDG to review its completion reporting system for its newly created Office for Development Effectiveness. After fruitful discussions with Australian Managing Contractors and AusAID, our recommendations to improve the reporting structure were accepted and we look forward to further strengthening our relationship with AusAID.

ADI in Cambodia
October 2006

EDG has conducted its second analysis of the Cambodia Australia Agricultural Extension Project. During a 10-day visit, EDG, together with XXX, the managing contractor, focused on how the project had achieved its outcomes.

Tracer Study of Crawford Fund Training in Vietnam
October 2006

For the past 10 years, the Crawford Fund has provided short-term, hands-on training to people in developing countries engaged in agricultural research and training. When the Fund wanted to assess the impact of these training programs, it engaged EDG to carry out a tracer study.

EDG’S study traced where participants were now living and working, and assessed whether the Fund’s activities had had any significant impact on their professional life. Individuals were asked to assess the impact of their training on their institution or agricultural sector, with supervisors and managers interviewed to confirm perceptions.

The survey was conducted in two phases. The first was based on a general structured interview with quantitative and qualitative assessments, and the second was an in-country interview by a journalist.

EDG recommended the development of a simple M&E framework to assess the Fund’s training activities on a regular basis. The group said there needed to be a clear set of procedures for all training activities, and that this framework should provide enough relevant information for evaluation purposes and to make informed decisions for change.

International Conference
September 2006

In September 2006, EDG staff attended the Darwin International Conference held by the Australasian Evaluation Society. The week-long event, built around the theme ‘evaluation in emerging areas’, was packed with lectures and workshops that addressed key areas such as international development, aboriginal affairs, innovative approaches to working in a changing context and new theoretical models and frameworks. Papers can be found on the AES website at http://www.aes.asn.au/

EDG in Africa
July 2006

EDG is to establish and develop a monitoring, evaluation and management information system for the Agribusiness Development Component of Zambia’s Smallholder Enterprise and Marketing Programme (SHEMP). [Insert link?]

The project will see EDG tailor models used successfully in the Pacific for Zambia, and, hopefully, other African countries.

In Zambia, the agricultural sector is the key to economic development and has defined a national agricultural policy in its Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. Over the years this has included reducing state control of agricultural prices and liberalising the marketing of major commodities with the view to encouraging greater participation by the private sector.

SHEMP represents the Government of Zambia’s attempt to improve the marketing environment of smallholder farmers by strengthening the link between private sector farming and marketing enterprises. The Agribusiness Development Component (ADC) is aimed at improving the business environment for smallholder farmers.

The two-year program started in January 2006, and it is now timely to introduce the monitoring and evaluation framework to guide the project team to realise its objectives.

EDG reaffirms commitment in East Timor
February 2006

As part of our commitment to alleviating widespread poverty in East Timor, EDG recently completed three projects in the country that saw us provide technical expertise in agriculture and capacity building.

Since independence, East Timor has emerged as one of the poorest nations in the Asia-Pacific region. EDG is committed to improving the situation for the 40% of the population that currently live below the poverty line. We will continue to work closely with donor organisations

Review of AusAID program in the Solomon Islands
February 2006

EDG has been contracted to review the AusAID-funded Transitional Support to Agriculture Project in the Solomon Islands. To date EDG has carried out an in-country mission to evaluate the project’s design and contribution to AusAID’s strategy for the country.

Education reform in Papua New Guinea
February 2006

EDG has just finished evaluating three AusAID-funded education programs in Papua New Guinea, after being engaged by the agency to provide experts in sectors including education, M&E and financial auditing. Our teams are assessing PNG’s Mid-term Review for the Curriculum Reform Implementation Project (CRIP), the CRIP Impact Study, the CRIP Annual Plan, the performance assessment for the Basic Education Development Project (BEPD) and the performance assessment of the Education Capacity Building Program. Our evaluations will help AusAID develop its PNG Education Strategy and future direction for Australian donor assistance in this sector.

EDG team members provided valuable insight and recommendations to AusAID and program stakeholders and took part in a number of events, including the PNG Curriculum Conference held in Port Moresby.