The Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) on its draft policy document on food security and sustainable rural development, which focuses on five strategic areas: 1)sustainable management of natural resources and equal access to land, 2) food and nutrition security sustainable development of the rural economy, 3) education, capacity development and empowerment, 4) rural governance - inclusive participation and advocacy; consider the promotion of agricultural cooperatives relevant, especially in terms of sustainable development of the rural economy and in advocacy.

Taking this into account, the impact study of ADC’s engagement on agricultural cooperatives from 2010-2020, commissioned by the Austrian Development Agency’s (ADA) evaluation unit, will be used mainly for learning inside ADA and among NGOs and private sector working in this field, as well as to assess the effectiveness and impact of the instruments, together with the impact of applied strategies and approaches. 

Furthermore, the study will assess the effectiveness at outcome and impact levels of ADA funded or implemented interventions i.e., in terms of livelihood improvements, through income generation and job creation. Additionally, it will explore causes, interdependencies, and trade-offs and long-term effect of the mentioned engagement.

The engagement of ADC has been based on direct and indirect support to agricultural cooperatives, in order to enable smallholder farmers. Direct support has been awarded in three countries: Armenia, Georgia and Burkina Faso. Indirect support has been awarded in Kosovo and Ethiopia, plus the three past mentioned countries. Though the focus of this impact study will be placed in Armenia and Georgia.

 

The findings will be used on planning, decision-making and steering of ADC engagement in food security and sustainable rural development. The assignment will take place between January-November 2021, where Nordic Consulting Group – Denmark’s partner Carsten Schwensen will act as Team Leader.