Performance Evaluation of the Incentives Driving Economic Alternatives – North, East, and West Program

The project was implemented in the central and eastern provinces of Afghanistan, including Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman, Kabul, Kapisa, Panjshir, and Parwan. IDEA-NEW was initially designed as an alternative livelihoods project but shifted focus in 2010 to increasing rural incomes through improved agriculture practices and support for agriculture enterprises across the agriculture sector. The project's implementation spanned over seven years, during which time it undertook a wide range of activities and tested various implementation methodologies in 19 provinces. IDEA-NEW adopted a more formal value chain approach in mid-2012, aiming to improve the productivity and sustainability of agriculture enterprises. The project's activities included farmer training programs, infrastructure development, and market linkage facilitation. A performance evaluation of the IDEA-NEW project was conducted in 2015, which assessed the project's progress and impact on rural incomes and agriculture practices. The evaluation found that the project had achieved significant results in diversification, productivity improvement, and capacity building. The project also made progress in women's empowerment, with increased investment in women and access to training. The evaluation identified several key findings, including the importance of diversification and the value chain approach in improving rural incomes. The project's focus on agriculture productivity and sustainable results led to significant improvements in crop yields and farmer incomes. The evaluation also highlighted the need for continued capacity building and monitoring to ensure the sustainability of the project's results. The IDEA-NEW project's results framework, which was used to guide the project's implementation and evaluation, is shown in Figure 1. The framework consists of several key indicators, including the number of farmers engaged in value chain activities, the percentage of farmers with improved crop yields, and the number of women participating in the project. The project's implementation was supported by several implementing partners, including Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), ACDI/VOCA, and Mercy Corps. The project's monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system was used to track progress and identify areas for improvement. The M&E system consisted of several data collection tools, including surveys, focus groups, and key informant interviews. The evaluation of the IDEA-NEW project provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of the project's approach and the challenges faced by rural communities in Afghanistan. The project's results demonstrate the potential of the value chain approach in improving rural incomes and agriculture practices, and highlight the need for continued support and investment in rural development initiatives.