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

Evaluation Final Report: Nigeria Aflasafe Challenge Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Nigeria Aflasafe 2735 downloads

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Final Evaluation Report_Nigeria_2020.pdf

Evaluation Final Report: Nigeria Aflasafe Challenge Project

The Nigeria Aflasafe Challenge Project evaluation (published in February 2019, end-of-project update added November 2020) found that the project succeeded in creating a niche market for Aflasafe-treated maize. Aflasafe adoption increased by 56 percentage points, and average net income from maize increased by 16 percent. The sustainability of the market is uncertain.

Evaluation End-of-Project Update: Nigeria Aflasafe Challenge Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Nigeria Aflasafe 411 downloads

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Nigeria Evaluation End of Project Update_November_2020.pdf

Evaluation End-of-Project Update: Nigeria Aflasafe Challenge Project

Evaluator Abt Associates revisited the Nigeria Aflasafe Challenge Project at its conclusion, two years after the comprehensive mixed-methods assessment. They found that private sector involvement in the Aflasafe-treated maize market had increased despite reduction in the AgResults incentive, but that the Aflasafe-treated maize market’s sustainability was uncertain given general maize market instability and delayed implementation of aflatoxin-related policies.

Evaluator Lessons Learned #5: Incorporating a Gender Lens into Challenge Projects Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Kenya Storage 579 downloads

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Evaluator Lessons Learned 5_Incorporating a Gender Lens into Challenge Projects_updated.pdf

This brief by External Evaluator Abt Associates explores how Pay-for-Results (PfR) projects could potentially perpetuate disadvantages that women face in agricultural market systems and suggests project design approaches to improve gender outcomes. It also presents results from AgResults’ Kenya PfR project that led to unique benefits for women.

Takeaways from Seven Years of Using Prize Competitions to Transform Markets Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Brucellosis (Global), FMD Vaccine, Kenya Storage, Nigeria Aflasafe, Tanzania Dairy, Uganda Legumes, Vietnam Emissions, Zambia PVA Maize 1110 downloads

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AgResults Takeaways from Seven Years of Using Prize Competitions to Transform Markets.pdf

Since 2013, AgResults has been designing and implementing agricultural prize competitions to encourage the private sector to "solve" a market failure and work toward a defined goal to receive a monetary award. In this cross-cutting learning document, AgResults presents 12 key takeaways based on its experience with prize concept design and sourcing; launch and marketing; and running a prize competition.

Final Report: Nigeria Aflasafe Challenge Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Nigeria Aflasafe 1587 downloads

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AgResults Nigeria Aflasafe Challenge Project_final report.pdf

More than 4.5 billion people in developing countries are exposed to aflatoxins, one of the world’s most carcinogenic substances, through their diets. Yet a biocontrol solution exists: AflasafeTM. The AgResults Nigeria AflasafeTM Challenge Project (2013-2019) used a Pay-for-Results (PfR) prize competition to motivate the private sector to overcome critical barriers preventing widespread adoption of AflasafeTM among Nigerian smallholder farmers working in the maize sector. Over six years, the competition engaged 41 competitors to reach 75,788 farmers, producing more than 315,000MT of AflasafeTM-treated maize.

Evaluation Design: FMD Vaccine Challenge Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, FMD Vaccine 702 downloads

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FMD Evaluation Design Document_2021.01.18.pdf

Evaluation Design: FMD Vaccine Challenge Project

The evaluation design for the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Vaccine Challenge Project, by IDinsight, lays out a mixed-methods approach relying primarily on qualitative process-tracing techniques. The document highlights the role of data collected from potential vaccine manufacturers, buyers, policymakers, and others to explore how the project impacts the development and uptake of FMD vaccines in Eastern Africa.

Evaluator Lessons Learned #4: Kenya On-Farm Storage Challenge Project Evaluation Findings Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Kenya Storage 618 downloads

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Evaluator Lessons Learned 4_Kenya On-Farm Storage Project Evaluation Findings.pdf

This brief by External Evaluator Abt Associates summarizes the evaluation of the AgResults Kenya On-Farm Storage Challenge Project. Abt Associates found that the competition created an emerging market for improved on-farm storage devices and increased adoption of on-farm storage technologies. However, impacts on farmer income were small. The brief underscores the challenge of constructing an accurate theory of change.

Evaluation: Vietnam Challenge Project RCT Adherence Report Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Vietnam Emissions 633 downloads

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Evaluation Design Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project RCT Report.pdf

Abt Associates’ evaluation design of the Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project envisions a randomized control design. This report assesses the success of the initial randomization and confirms that competitors adhered to rules respecting communes set aside for control; it also confirms similarities between control and treatment groups at baseline.

Evaluation Design: Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Vietnam Emissions 452 downloads

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Evaluation Design AgResults Vietnam 2020 06 05.pdf

Evaluation Design: Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project

The evaluation design for the Vietnam GHG Emissions Reduction Challenge Project, by Abt Associates, lays out a mixed methods approach, including a randomized control design. The document highlights the role of interviews, surveys, and farmer diaries to explore the effect of the Vietnam project on the market for emissions-reducing technologies and to estimate impacts on farmers’ knowledge, attitude, practices, and incomes.

Brucellosis Vaccine Challenge Project: 2019 Interim Assessment Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Brucellosis (Global), Evaluator 681 downloads

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Brucellosis Vaccine C hallenge Project 2019 Interim Evaluation Assessment.pdf

This assessment by External Evaluator Abt Associates reflects the experience of competitors in the Brucellosis Vaccine Challenge Project from mid-2018 to mid-2019. Most competitors reported that the competition had helped advance their B. melitensis vaccine R&D. However, many of them anticipated challenges completing the safety and efficacy trials due to resource constraints.

Can Pull Mechanisms Achieve Agriculture Development Objectives? Evidence from AgResults External Evaluation Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Kenya Storage, Nigeria Aflasafe, Uganda Legumes, Zambia PVA Maize 627 downloads

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AgResults External Evaluation Presentation_February 2020.pdf

This DFID Chief Economist Seminar Series presentation from February 2020 summarizes External Evaluator Abt Associates' findings about the use of “pull mechanisms” or “prize competitions” to develop markets that provide innovative agricultural technologies to smallholder farmers. Findings suggest that pull mechanisms can create markets as long as the binding constraints inhibiting market development are within the manageable interest of the companies competing for the prize.

Final Report: Uganda Legume Seed Challenge Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Uganda Legumes 1074 downloads

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AgResults_Uganda Legume Seed Challenge Project_final report.pdf

Despite the nutritional and environmental benefits of legumes, Ugandan seed companies have not prioritized legume seed production due to fluctuations in demand, low profitability, and limited access to working capital. The AgResults Uganda Legume Seed Challenge Project, which ran from 2017-2018, used a Pay-for-Results prize competition to encourage Ugandan seed companies to increase the production and adoption of improved higher-quality legume varieties. Despite the project’s early closure due to ongoing seed counterfeiting, low participation in the competition, and challenges of seed quality verification, it still revealed valuable learning around what works and what does not work when designing and implementing a prize competition focused on increasing sales of quality seed.

Final Report: Kenya On-Farm Storage Challenge Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Kenya Storage 1491 downloads

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AgResults Kenya On-Farm Storage Challenge Project_final report.pdf

Final Report: Kenya On-Farm Storage Challenge Project

Eastern Africa grows nearly 20% of the grain produced in sub-Saharan Africa, yet the region suffers from post-harvest grain losses that cost about US$1.6 billion per year. The AgResults Kenya On-Farm Storage Challenge Project (2014-2018) used a Pay-for-Results prize competition to motivate private competitors to develop, market, and sell on-farm storage devices to smallholder farmers in the country's Rift Valley and Eastern Regions. Overall, participating competitors sold a total of 1,390,777 improved storage devices, creating 413,265 MT of improved storage capacity.

Evaluation Final Report: Kenya On-Farm Storage Challenge Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Evaluator, Kenya Storage 1249 downloads

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Final Evaluation Report_Kenya_2020.pdf

The external evaluation of the Kenya On-Farm Storage Challenge Project found that the project created an emerging market for improved on-farm storage products in Kenya. Impacts on farmer income and food security were small, and the main reported benefit of adoption was reduced use of pesticide dust in maize stored for home consumption.

Evaluation Baseline Report: Brucellosis Vaccine Challenge Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Brucellosis (Global), Evaluator 549 downloads

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Baseline Report AgResults Brucellosis 2019 09 24.pdf

This baseline report by External Evaluator Abt Associates describes the Brucellosis vaccine landscape at baseline. Evaluators found that the vaccine market is weak and no new vaccines to control Brucellosis have been developed in recent years. Evaluators also found that the Milestone 1 prize seemed to incentivize some new entities to initiate Brucellosis vaccine R&D.

Presentation: Prize Competitions to Drive Livestock Productivity Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Brucellosis (Global), Learning Library 784 downloads

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GASL 2019 Parallel Session_final.pdf

Presentation: Prize Competitions to Drive Livestock Productivity

This presentation from the 2019 Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL) Multi-Stakeholder Partnership (MSP) meeting introduces AgResults' framework, which uses prize competitions to encourage the private sector to overcome market challenges. The World Bank and AgResults Secretariat share lessons from designing and implementing competitions to strengthen livestock health and productivity: a global Brucellosis vaccine competition, a vaccine competition to address Foot and Mouth Disease in Eastern Africa, and a Tanzania-based competition to boost dairy productivity.

Final Report: Zambia Biofortified Maize Challenge Project Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Zambia PVA Maize 1253 downloads

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AgResults Zambia Biofortified Maize Challenge Project_Final Report.pdf

Final Report: Zambia Biofortified Maize Challenge Project

In Zambia, approximately 31% of children and 21% of women are affected by Vitamin A deficiency. The Zambia Biofortified Maize Challenge Project (2014-2018) used a Pay-for-Results (PfR) prize structure to incentivize commercial millers to source, produce, and market Pro-Vitamin A (PVA) maize meal and boost consumer demand to increase PVA maize consumption. Although the project closed early due to the lack of market response and ongoing enabling environment challenges, it still resulted in rich learning around what works and does not work when designign and implementing PfR prize competitions.

AgResults Toolkit Prize Concept Review Framework Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Brucellosis (Global), Kenya Storage, Nigeria Aflasafe, Uganda Legumes, Vietnam Emissions, Zambia PVA Maize 706 downloads

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AgResults Toolkit_PrizeConceptReviewFramework.pptx

AgResults Toolkit Prize Concept Review Framework

The AgResults Prize Concept Review Framework assesses concepts for validity as a prize competition. The framework comprises four key questions on the (a) market failure, (b) missions impact, (c) prize design, and (d) enabling environment. 

The Kenya On-Farm Storage Pay-for-Results Contest: Competitor Responses and Perspectives Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Kenya Storage 1050 downloads

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AgResults LL7_Kenya Competitors_Mar2019.pdf

The Kenya On-Farm Storage Pay-for-Results Contest: Competitor Responses and Perspectives

Which factors empowered private sector companies to develop, market, and sell on-farm storage devices to smallholders in Kenya? Which factors hindered others' success? This Lessons Learned article explores the perspectives of those competitors who participated in the Kenya On-Farm Storage Challenge Project.

The Nigeria Aflasafe Maize Challenge: Competitor Perspectives Popular

In Learning Library Tagged in Nigeria Aflasafe 1042 downloads

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The Nigeria Aflasafe Challenge Project - Competitor Perspectives.pdf

The Nigeria Aflasafe Maize Challenge: Competitor Perspectives

What were some of the challenges and opportunities that arose among the private sector companies that participated in the Nigeria Aflasafe Challenge Project? This Lessons Learned article shares insights that emerged from discussing competitors' experiences and perspectives.