Baseline Survey of Sub-Projects Financed under Small and Medium Sized Grant (Fourth Call)

Project Description

The Project for Agriculture Commercialization and Trade (PACT) is a Ministry of Agricultural Development, Government of Nepal (GoN) initiative, funded by the World Bank, to foster commercialization of agriculture in Nepal. PACT was initiated in August 2009 to implement interventions aimed at expediting agriculture commercialization in Nepal. This project has been following a result based approach offering a competitive matching grant for the eligible value chain participants (farmer groups, cooperatives, producers associations and private firms) under an output based financing system. With additional financing (AF), project’s earlier restriction of 25 districts has been removed but maintained the focus on selected commodity value chains so that the project can have a meaningful impact on developing a few, commercially viable value chains. In addition to this, AF extended project’s closing date by additional 3 years till 30th June 2018, scaled up the scope of the project; and revised targets of outcome indicators to reflect scaling up of investments which also required an amendment to the Financing Agreement for the current project.
The Sub-Project Level Baseline Survey was conducted in 8 thematic area, 626 Sub-projects (290 GR and 336 NGR) survey in 47 project districts to assist project in establishing baselines of sub-projects and value chain indicators as reflected in the projects revised result framework including baseline information on socio-economic conditions, the local institutional environment, the local economic setting.

Assignment Description

The baseline survey focused on data collection relevant to socio-economic status and condition of grant recipients and non-grant recipients applicable to PACT’s call for small and medium sized grant. • Provide baseline data relevant to project’s result framework indicators for measuring project effectiveness and impact of the PACT during and after the completion of PACT • Provide recommendations that may enhance the effectiveness and impact of the project matching grant • Conducted survey in 626 Sub-projects (290 GR and 336 NGR) in 47 project districts for 8 thematic area (Cardamom, Coffee, Dairy Products, Fish, Flower, Ginger, Meat & Meat Products and Vegetables (cauliflower, cabbage and tomato in tunnel)) using paper based data collection and the GPS locations of the survey points were recorded using tablets/ smart phones in the field to identify geographic location • Collected data on demographic, socio-economic features of the GR and NGR, nature and extent of their participation in agriculture commercialization processes and activities. • Update indicators at the district aggregate level for the PACT identified commodities. • Stakeholder consultation meeting at central (MOAD, DOA, DOLS, PACT/PMT/CTA), regional (PRIST/RTA) and district (DDC, DADO, DLSO, DCCI, NGOs) level to supplement the survey. • Provided reliable information on productivity, production volume and sales of key agricultural commodities and corresponding major value chain participants with their competence, linkages with other value chain participants, comparative advantages, strengths and constraints • Interview key persons of value chain actors to access the linkage among Joint Proposal (JP) Value Chains (VC) to collect additional information on value chain linkage, sales volume, export volume, sales price, purchase price, number & type of active registered agri-business, obstacles and solutions in agri-business as well as the trade route. • Provided basic data and information for developing Value Chain Development Plans (VCDP) for selected commodities. • Suggested changes/amendments in project result framework • Preparation and submission of Inception, Draft and Final Reports.