The agricultural research intermediate impact indicator matrix : a synthesis

One key subsector which requires such indicators is agricultural research. Due to the long duration of most research programs, there is a special need for intermediate indicators by means of which A.I.D. can determine whether continued or additional funding will generate impact over the medium to long term. To meet this need, AFR/TR/ANR contracted with Management Systems International to develop a methodology to examine successful research programs in three African countries, to apply that methodology to discrete cases to generate scenarios of impact, and to develop recommended intermediate indicators to determine whether and when impact could have been predicted. The result is a data gathering and analysis tool presented in the form of a matrix. It generates indicators and associated measures which can be applied by A.I.D. field staff with little extra investment in data gathering and analysis. The methodology for using the matrix is discussed, and examples of results presented in this report. If applied to more cases and further refined, these indicators could be used to measure the extent and magnitude of impact which can be attributed to A.I.D."s agricultural research and extension interventions. (Author abstract)