Forest, Trees and Agroforestry Monitoring, Evaluation, and Impact Assessment

Impact Assessment Focal Point Meeting, Standing Panel on Impact AssessmentRamadhani Achdiawan & Sid Mohan

Boston, 29 July 2016

Forest Trees and Agroforestry (FTA) is an integrated global research initiative that aims to enhance the management and use of forests, agroforestry and tree genetic resources as a way to improve livelihoods and sustain environmental values.

Natural resource management research operates in complex system; long impact pathways, multiple actors and long time lags

Complex “attribution gaps” between research intervention and ultimate impacts

RCT type experimental designs are almost impossible, at best quasi-experimental design

Therefore, we use theory based approach and suite for adapted tools for monitoring and evaluating outcomes and impacts

Nature of FTA Research

Encourage an “impact culture” in which research and related activities are defined, designed and implemented to contribute to transformative change

Ensure that work under FTA remains relevant and useful in a rapidly changing world

Guide ongoing research and engagement to maximize effectiveness

Help researchers learn from other FTA projects about what works best and how to focus research and foster engagement

Provide evidence that FTA work is effective and that investments in the program produce competitive returns

Contribute to the global evidence base on returns on investments in natural resources management research, capacity strengthening, and communications for poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability

The FTA MEIA

The CRP-level theory of change that explains the main pathways and mechanisms from FTA research to IDOs

Flagship Project theories of change

Specific theories of change at the activity levels

An overall approach and step-by-step guide to planning, monitoring, and learning at activity FP and Program scales,

A detailed and harmonized project information database (ICT platform)

Components of FTA MEIA

Influence log

Event Evaluation Tool

Outcome Stories

Overall Outcome Assessment; Episode Study, Performance Study, Collaborative Outcome Assessment etc.

Integrated to FTA database https://sharepoint.foreststreesagroforestry.org

Monitoring Tools

OutcomeChange in knowledge, attitudes and skills, manifest as changes in discourse, institutions, policy, and practice that result in part or in whole from FTA research and associated activities (i.e. behavior change)

ImpactChange in flow or state resulting in whole or in part from a chain of events to which research has contributed, directly or indirectly, intended or unintended. These effects can be economic, socio-cultural, institutional, environmental, or technological

Evaluation and Impact Assessment

Completed Congo Basin; Contribution to SFM in Central Africa (OA) Global Comparative Study of REDD+ (OA) Sustainable Wetlands Adaptation and Mitigation Program (O&IA) Furniture Value Chain (O&IA) Agroforestry for Food Security (AFSPII) in Malawi (OA) FMNR (West Africa) (IA)

On going Managing Forestry Landscape in Guinea/ LAMIL (IA) Agroforestry in Western Kenya (IA)

Plan in 2016 KANOPPI (OA) Fire and Haze (OA) Brazil Nut in Peru (OA) PEN (OA) VPA Implementation (IA)

Outcome and Impact Assessment

Thank you