Farmer-to-Farmer Lessons Learned I: A Special Study

The F2F program connects U.S. agriculture professionals with their counterparts in emerging markets to provide volunteer technical assistance. The program has fielded 17,000 volunteers, reaching 1.3 million beneficiaries and 90 million people indirectly. The F2F program's primary goal is to promote a greater understanding among the American public of the role of U.S. development programs and their effectiveness in helping people, countering extremism, and justifying development spending by showing positive returns on investments (ROI). The program also aims to perform American citizen diplomacy by highlighting Americans' spirit to help others through targeted and effective volunteerism. The SPSP works closely with F2F core program implementers to develop and implement good practices and promote agricultural volunteer services. The SPSP's objectives are to develop new F2F implementers, reach new volunteers, and advance learning, innovation, and growth within the program. These objectives are achieved through outreach, grant competitions, and capacity building of Grantees throughout the implementation of the F2F program. The SPSP relies on two funding mechanisms, Small Grants and Program Development Projects (PDPs). F2F Small Grant projects aim to test innovative approaches to the use of U.S.-based volunteers overseas in the food and agriculture sector, draw from non-traditional sources of U.S. volunteers, and allow new U.S.-based organizations to participate in the F2F program. These grants provide enhanced guidance and award oversight to ensure that F2F awards are implemented effectively. The Lessons Learned I Special Study is focused on the sub-awards program, which is one of the five main activities of the SPSP. The study reviews the accomplishments of the sub-awards program and identifies improvements that can be made in the future. The study's recommendations are based on a 360-degree examination of the sub-awards program, including reviews of reports and other primary documents, interviews, surveys, a focus group, and site visits. The study's recommendations are organized around the three main tasks of the F2F SPSP sub-awards program: outreach and solicitation, grants management, and capacity building of Grantees. The recommendations include targeting outreach and solicitation efforts to a particular SPSP objective, improving Requests for Applications (RFAs) based on experience and findings, and reducing the administrative requirements of SPSP awards. The study also recommends continuing capacity building for Small Grant applicants, increasing support for communication with USAID Missions, and enhancing SPSP Grantees' engagement with the larger F2F community. Additionally, the study suggests adding mid-sized grants as F2F "stepping stones" to provide a more inclusive and innovative program overall. The SPSP's sub-awards program has been successful in developing new F2F implementers, reaching new volunteers, and advancing learning, innovation, and growth within the program. The program has also provided opportunities for new U.S.-based organizations to participate in the F2F program and has tested innovative approaches to the use of U.S.-based volunteers overseas in the food and agriculture sector.