Learning from AgResults

AgResults learning takes two forms:

  1. Learning generated from the experience of AgResults in designing and implementing projects;
  2. Learning generated from the External Evaluator in its independent ongoing review of AgResults projects.

Since 2013, AgResults has developed a variety of knowledge products, which can be found in the Learning Library below. The library is searchable by keyword and by a specific AgResults project, using the "All Tags" drop-down box.

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Learning Library

document Evaluator’s Sustainability Assessment: Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Learning Library, Vietnam Emissions 61 downloads

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AgResults Vietnam Sustainability Assessment Report Final.docx

Two years’ after the project’s conclusion, Evaluators found that several companies and many farmers were continuing to use (with some adaptation) rice production systems that had been introduced by companies during the competition. Farmers were more likely to use those systems if they received continuing support from the company and if water management systems were reliable.

document Evaluator’s Gender Assessment: Tanzania Dairy Productivity Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Learning Library, Tanzania Dairy 103 downloads

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AgResults Tanzania Dairy Project Gender Assessment.docx

This assessment, conducted during project implementation, found significant diversity in the roles men and women play in households’ dairy activities, with female farmers often less well positioned than males to achieve and benefit from dairy intensification. While the project’s design offsets some risk of negative outcomes to women, payment-for-results projects have limited leeway to promote gender equity.

pdf Lessons Learned Article: Pay for Results’ Role in Transforming Tanzania's Dairy Input Supplier Model Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Learning Library, Tanzania Dairy 109 downloads

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Lessons Learned Article_Pay for Results’ Role in Transforming Tanzania's Dairy Input Supplier Model.pdf

Lessons Learned Article: Pay for Results’ Role in Transforming Tanzania's Dairy Input Supplier Model

The AgResults Tanzania Dairy Challenge Project was established to incentivize private sector input suppliers to raise awareness and educate smallholder farmers on the value of adopting productivity-increasing input bundles to enhance production and strengthen dairy-based livelihoods. This Lessons Learned article explores how the project has already made an impactful shift in the dairy input supplier model and market, strengthening SHF’s demand for improved inputs.

pdf Lessons Learned Article: The Post-Project PVA Maize Market in Zambia Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Zambia PVA Maize 273 downloads

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AgResults Lessons Learned_Zambia Post-Project PVA Maize Market.pdf

From 2014-2018, the AgResults Zambia Biofortified Maize Challenge Project tried to tackle Vitamin A deficiency by increasing the awareness around and consumption of biofortified, pro-Vitamin A (PVA) maize. This Lessons Learned article explores the post-project PVA maize market in Zambia, looking at changes in PVA maize seed production, public and private sector demand, and broader shifts in consumption patterns.

pdf Evaluator Lessons Learned 8: Impact Evaluation Methods Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Kenya Storage, Nigeria Aflasafe, Vietnam Emissions 149 downloads

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Evaluator Lessons Learned 8_Impact Evaluation Methods.pdf

Evaluator Lessons Learned 8: Impact Evaluation Methods

This brief by External Evaluator Abt Associates discusses quantitative methods for conducting impact assessments of smallholder farmer benefits from donor-devised interventions that stimulate private sector engagement in markets for technologies benefiting the farmers. The brief presents three AgResults Pay-for-Results competitions as examples and offers seven lessons for evaluators.

pdf Senegal Crop Storage Finance Process Tracing Evaluation – Baseline Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Senegal Crop Storage Finance 191 downloads

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AgResults Process Tracing Baseline Evaluation Senegal.pdf

Senegal Crop Storage Finance Process Tracing Evaluation – Baseline

This report from External Evaluator IDinsight documents findings from the baseline Process Tracing evaluation of the AgResults Senegal Crop Storage Finance Challenge Project. The purpose of the baseline Process Tracing evaluation was to assess the state of the storage finance market during early stages of the project and assess if the preconditions are in place for the project to have its intended impact.

pdf One-Pager: Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Vietnam Emissions 367 downloads

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AgResults_Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project_One-Pager.pdf

One-Pager: Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project

This one-pager summarizes results and lessons learned from the Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project, which used a Pay-for-Results prize competition structure to incentivize private sector competitors to test and scale technology packages among smallholder rice farmers in Thai Binh Province. Over four seasons, four competitors reached 37,596 different smallholder farmers across 507 villages.

pdf Evaluation Final Report: Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Vietnam Emissions 479 downloads

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AgResults Final Evaluation Report_Vietnam GHG Challenge Project.pdf

Evaluation Final Report: Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project

This evaluation final report by Abt Associates shows that Pay-for-Results spurred private sector development and dissemination of emissions-reducing, yield-enhancing technology packages among smallholder farmers in Vietnam. A 2100-farmer survey showed that AgResults farmers achieved 14 percent higher yields than comparison farmers and used practices associated with lower emissions. However, project measurements of emissions were uncertain, so evaluators could not determine emissions impact. Future projects should pay attention to reliability of field-based emissions measurements.

pdf Evaluator Lessons Learned 7: Vietnam GHG Emissions Evaluation Findings Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Vietnam Emissions 408 downloads

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Evaluator Lessons Learned 7_Vietnam GHG Emissions Evaluation Findings.pdf

Evaluator Lessons Learned 7: Vietnam GHG Emissions Evaluation Findings

This brief summarizes the final evaluation report of the Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project, showing that PfR can spur the private sector to develop and disseminate emissions-reducing technology packages for smallholder farmers. AgResults farmers achieved 14 percent higher yields than comparison farmers and were more likely to use practices associated with lower GHG emissions. The project’s main challenge was obtaining reliable measurements of emissions.

pdf Final Report: Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Vietnam Emissions 1562 downloads

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AgResults Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project_final report.pdf

Final Report: Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project

In Vietnam, rice is a critical crop for income and food security. However, current production practices can lead to high rates of unwanted greenhouse gases (GHG) that contribute heavily to climate change. The AgResults Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project (2016-2021) used a Pay-for-Results (PfR) prize competition to encourage the private sector in Thai Binh to test, develop, and scale improved technology packages among smallholder rice farmers. Over four growing seasons, four competitors engaged more than 25,000 farmers, increasing yields by 4-14% and incomes by 10-15%.

pdf Design Brief #5: Verification and Project Management Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Brucellosis (Global), FMD Vaccine, Indonesia Aquaculture, Kenya Storage, Nigeria Aflasafe, Tanzania Dairy, Uganda Legumes, Vietnam Emissions, Zambia PVA Maize 852 downloads

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AgResults Design Brief 5_Verification and Project Management.pdf

Design Brief #5: Verification and Project Management

This brief, the fifth and final in the series, provides an overview of the fifth phase of AgResults’ approach to Pay-for-Results prize competition design. It explains how program designers can develop a thorough verification plan to evaluate competitors’ results and determine prize payments. It also summarizes the activities involved in project management of a prize competition.

pdf Design Brief #4: Right-Sizing Prizes Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Brucellosis (Global), FMD Vaccine, Indonesia Aquaculture, Kenya Storage, Nigeria Aflasafe, Tanzania Dairy, Uganda Legumes, Vietnam Emissions, Zambia PVA Maize 859 downloads

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AgResults Design Brief 4_Right-Sizing Prizes.pdf

Design Brief #4: Right-Sizing Prizes

This brief, the fourth in a series of five, provides an overview of the fourth phase of AgResults’ approach to Pay-for-Results prize competition design. It explains how program designers can determine the size of the prize purse to effectively drive participation and innovation without overpaying for results.

pdf Design Brief #3: Structuring Prizes Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Brucellosis (Global), FMD Vaccine, Indonesia Aquaculture, Kenya Storage, Nigeria Aflasafe, Tanzania Dairy, Uganda Legumes, Vietnam Emissions, Zambia PVA Maize 921 downloads

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AgResults Design Brief 3_Structuring Prizes.pdf

Design Brief #3: Structuring Prizes

This brief, the third in a series of five, provides an overview of the third phase of AgResults’ approach to Pay-for-Results prize competition design. It explains how program designers can create the set of parameters and rules that determines who competes, how to win the prize(s), and the implementation timeline.

pdf Design Brief #2: Analyzing Feasibility Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Brucellosis (Global), FMD Vaccine, Indonesia Aquaculture, Kenya Storage, Nigeria Aflasafe, Tanzania Dairy, Uganda Legumes, Vietnam Emissions, Zambia PVA Maize 965 downloads

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AgResults Design Brief 2_Analyzing Feasibility.pdf

Design Brief #2: Analyzing Feasibility

This brief, the second in a series of five, provides an overview of the second phase of AgResults’ approach to Pay-for-Results prize competition design. It explains how program designers conduct deeper research on relevant market systems to articulate a Theory of Change for the competition and to reasonably estimate the project’s impacts.

pdf Design Brief #1: Concept Sourcing Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Brucellosis (Global), FMD Vaccine, Indonesia Aquaculture, Kenya Storage, Nigeria Aflasafe, Tanzania Dairy, Uganda Legumes, Vietnam Emissions, Zambia PVA Maize 903 downloads

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AgResults Design Brief 1_Concept Sourcing.pdf

Design Brief #1: Concept Sourcing

The first in a series of five, this brief provides an overview of concept sourcing, the first phase of AgResults’ Pay-for-Results prize competition design process. It shows how program designers begin the process by brainstorming and assessing potential development challenges to see if a prize competition is best suited to address the identified problem.

pdf Sustainability Assessment: Kenya On-Farm Storage Challenge Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Kenya Storage 462 downloads

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Sustainability Assessment AgResults Kenya On-Farm Storage Challenge Project_March 2021.pdf

Sustainability Assessment: Kenya On-Farm Storage Challenge Project

This sustainability assessment by External Evaluator Abt Associates looking at the Kenya On-Farm Storage Challenge Project affirms that Pay-for-Results projects can catalyze development of a smallholder- and gender-inclusive, sustainable market for beneficial agricultural technologies. Since the project ended, there have been new entrants to the market, ongoing product innovation, and a 250% increase in sales of on-farm storage products attributable to AgResults.

pdf Summary of Evaluator Findings and Lessons from AgResults Prize Competitions: 2013-2020 Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Kenya Storage, Nigeria Aflasafe, Uganda Legumes, Zambia PVA Maize 681 downloads

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Summary of Evaluator Findings and Lessons from AgResults Prize Competitions 2013-2020.pdf

Summary of Evaluator Findings and Lessons from AgResults Prize Competitions: 2013-2020

This report by External Evaluator Abt Associates summarizes independent evaluation findings from competitions in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia and offers guidance for future prize sponsors. It provides evidence that Pay-for-Results (PfR) competitions can spur development of markets for technologies benefitting smallholder farmers. It also offers guidance on how to determine whether PfR is an appropriate design option and how to maximize farmer benefits.

pdf Evaluation Design: Tanzania Dairy Productivity Challenge Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Tanzania Dairy 668 downloads

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AgResults Tanzania Evaluation Design.pdf

Evaluation Design: Tanzania Dairy Productivity Challenge Project

The evaluation design for the Tanzania Dairy Productivity Challenge Project by Abt Associates lays out a mixed-methods approach. To assess impact on dairy producers, the evaluator will use a quasi-experimental design to gauge technology adoption and subsequent impacts on income and consumption. The approach will use a structure, conduct, performance framework to assess market impact.

pdf Impactful Design: AgResults' Pay-for-Results Prize Competition Toolkit Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Brucellosis (Global), FMD Vaccine, Indonesia Aquaculture, Kenya Storage, Nigeria Aflasafe, Tanzania Dairy, Uganda Legumes, Vietnam Emissions, Zambia PVA Maize 2438 downloads

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Impactful Design - AgResults Pay-for-Results Prize Competition Toolkit.pdf

Impactful Design: AgResults' Pay-for-Results Prize Competition Toolkit

This toolkit is a practical guide for agricultural development practitioners who are interested in using Pay-for-Results prize competitions to stimulate new markets for agricultural technologies and engage the private sector for scale-up. It draws upon the experience of AgResults, which has designed and implemented prize competitions around the world since 2013.

pdf Evaluation Close-Out Assessment: Zambia Biofortified Maize Challenge Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Zambia PVA Maize 774 downloads

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2020 12 29 Zambia close out assessment.pdf

This assessment by External Evaluator Abt Associates, updated in December 2020, found that the AgResults project played a role in creating a niche market for PVA maize, although with limited development impact because the market involved mostly better-off smallholder farmers and urban consumers. Findings suggested that the market would likely be sustained in the short to medium term.