Ongoing Evaluations
Special Evaluation Study on Policy Implementation and Impact of Agricultural and Natural Resources Research
Team Leader: Samjhana Shrestha, Evaluation Specialist
 Share your views
The Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Policy Paper (1995) articulated ADB's approach to supporting research in the agriculture and natural resources (ANR) sector. A Special Evaluation Study conducted over eight years ago (in 2000) on the implementation and impact of the policy concluded that the policy objectives were generally relevant and modalities used in supporting ANR research were effective towards achieving the overall objective of poverty reduction.
There have been several changes in the ANR sectors of the developing member countries since then. Emerging concerns include increasing scarcity of land, labor, and water for agriculture; the likely impact of trade liberalization; global climate change; and bio-fuels development. In addition, ADB has also made several changes in policies, institutional set-up, and operational guidelines since 2000 in relation to ANR sector approaches. Currently, it is in the process of developing the Long-Term Strategic Framework 2008–2020 (LTSF 2008–2020), in which sustainable management of natural resources is placed high in the agenda for addressing concerns arising from climate change, among others. Further, recent emphasis among the donor community in making aid more effective makes it appropriate to evaluate if support to ANR research is in conformity with the Paris Declaration commitments. Hence, it is an opportune time to carry out an update of the previous special evaluation study.
The specific objectives of the evaluation are
- to determine the extent of adoption of the first special evaluation study's recommendations and to ascertain their continued relevance or otherwise in the current context;
- to determine the relevance and effectiveness of ANR research support provided since 2000 and key determinants of effectiveness;
- to determine the extent to which ADB has used the findings of ANR research supported projects and included these in its country operations and/or contributed to knowledge dissemination; and
- to assess the future relevance of support for ANR research in the context of current ANR issues, ADB's current and emerging corporate strategies, and the emerging international aid architecture, specifically Paris Declaration commitments.
| MILESTONE |
SCHEDULE |
STATUS |
| Evaluation Approach Paper |
February 2008 |
Approved in February 2008 |
| Fieldwork |
May 2008 |
Fielded |
| Final Report |
August 2008 |
Pending |
 |
Topics 
Top of page