The Evaluation Cooperation Group (ECG) today launched its most recent book, Evaluative Lessons for Agriculture and Agribusiness. The publication, a synthesis of evaluative findings from multilateral finance institutions, presents six action areas to help improve the outcomes of agriculture and agribusiness investments. It draws on recent evaluation work by ECG members, including the recent African Development Bank (AfDB)/ International Fund for Agriculture (IFAD) joint evaluation of agriculture in Africa.

The joint AfDB/IFAD evaluation was conducted by the Operations Evaluation Department (OPEV) of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Independent Evaluation Office of the International Fund for Agriculture (IFAD). It found that recent changes in the African context present opportunities for agriculture to flourish in Africa; however, stronger national, regional and international policy frameworks must be developed and new and more purposeful partnerships built across the sector to improve performance and boost agricultural production and trade. The joint evaluation recommends that to improve their performance in the sector, the AfDB and IFAD should close the agriculture policy gap, help improve lender performance, support borrowers to expand capacity for policy analysis and program management. It further recommends that the AfDB remain directly engaged in agriculture but be more selective in its interventions.

The following documents provide more information about the evaluation of the AfDB's agriculture sector policies and strategies.

Towards purposeful partnerships in African agriculture (Final Report of AfDB/IFAD evaluation)

Joint Evaluation of Agriculture and Rural Development Policies and Operations in Africa, (Summary Report of the main findings, conclusions and recommendations).

OPEV Sharing, Spring 2010 Aiding African Agriculture Broken Promise or Tempting Prospect?

Contacts

Senvyraj Maistry