This pilot programme, in the West Nile region of northern Uganda, aimed to increase refugee and host community farmers’ incomes through growth of the agribusiness sector.
The goal was to identify and increase access for those households who could, and wanted to, produce commercially for market.
Within the 12-month pilot the project achieved results related to farmers' increased use of improved inputs and increased engagement in markets. Results also showed, however, that improving market opportunities requires a multi-year approach and further analysis and assessment to fill information gaps.
Background to the pilot
In July 2017 the Department for International Development (DFID) contracted Mercy Corps, the Palladium Group and DanChurchAid (DCA) to deliver this 12-month pilot programme.
Intervention description
The primary purpose of the evaluation was to provide tactical recommendations for evidence-based decision making related to programme design, targeting, and implementation of future market-systems development programmes.
Evidence methodology
In order to more fully assess the effects and value of the pilot, and the efficacy of using a market-systems inspired approach as part of a humanitarian response, a mixed methods endline evaluation was conducted in July 2018. Additionally, the evaluation team interviewed farmers and refugee communities. A cross-sectional rather than panel design was chosen since programme uptake was market-driven.