Transition to High-Value Agriculture 2013-2018, Baseline and Interim Evaluation

The THVA evaluation will rely on two complementary evaluation components. The first is an impact evaluation, which focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of the project in the areas of Moldova where key activities are concentrated. The impact evaluation will compare the changes in outcomes over time in areas in which these activities are being implemented with similar areas in which they are not being implemented. It will draw primarily on longitudinal quantitative data collected from farm operators in 2013-2014 (before the completion of the compact activities), as well as in 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 (several years after the end of the compact). The second component is a performance evaluation, which will draw primarily on qualitative data collected in 2013, 2014, and 2015, as well as new data to be collected through 2022. In addition to these qualitative data collected from a variety of stakeholders (for example, farm operators, water user associations [WUAs], regional training service providers, local and national government officials, and value chain buyers), the performance evaluation will also draw on quantitative data from recipients of loans provided by the project, various sources of administrative data, and a document review. The performance evaluation will involve triangulating information from the various sources to gain a complete understanding of project implementation, successes, and challenges. The two components of the THVA evaluation are intended to complement each other and, in combination, provide a holistic assessment of the THVA project.