Impact Evaluation and Quantitative Population-Based Surveys for USAID/Mali’s Feed the Future (FTF) Cereal Value Chain (CVC) Activity

The project has been funded by the USAID and has a duration of March 7, 2014, to March 7, 2019. The geographic coverage of the project is Bamako, Mali. The FTF strategy in Mali uses a value chain approach to increase economic opportunities and focuses development interventions on three core value chains: sorghum/millet, rice, and livestock. These three value chains are key to Mali's development and overall food security as the majority of the population relies directly upon these staple foods for their livelihood and food security. The overall goal of FTF is to sustainably reduce global poverty and hunger through two inter-related objectives: inclusive agriculture growth and improved nutritional status, especially of women and children. The Immediate Results (IRs) that USAID/Mali has identified to be necessary for achieving these objectives and overall FTF goal include: Improved Agricultural Productivity, Expanding Markets and Trade, Increased Private Sector Investment in Agriculture and Nutrition Related Activities, and Increased Resilience of Vulnerable Communities and Households. The latter also contributes to the objective of Improved Nutritional Status, Especially of Women and Children. The project for Impact Evaluation and Quantitative Population-Based Surveys for USAID/Mali's Feed the Future (FTF) Cereal Value Chain (CVC) Activity aims to provide information and data to support future programmatic decisions and help meet Mali's FTF reporting requirements. This intervention will capture the value of USAID's investments in Mali and assess the effectiveness of USAID's value chain approach as a driver for inclusive economic development, allowing for more effective resource allocation and better targeted management decisions. The project team, led by IOS Partners, Inc., has been working closely with the staff of USAID/Mali, USAID Mali's Monitoring and Evaluation Accelerated Economic Growth Team, the Government of Mali, and the CVC Activity implementer – the ACDI/VOCA team – to facilitate project documents and meetings. The project has been funded by the USAID and has a duration of March 7, 2014, to March 7, 2019. The project's reporting period is January to March 2015, and the geographic coverage of the project is Bamako, Mali. The project aims to undertake an impact evaluation of the CVC Activity and conduct statistically representative population-based surveys for the indicators within the broader FTF initiative in Mali. The project will provide information and data to support future programmatic decisions and help meet Mali's FTF reporting requirements.