PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Agricultural Mechanisation for Smallholders (AMS) project is part of the German development cooperation’s sector focus on sustainable use of natural resources, agriculture, and food security. Implemented as part of the Promoting Agricultural Productivity in Ethiopia programme, the project is financed by BMZ and commissioned by GIZ. It aims to improve rural incomes and employment by increasing agricultural productivity and supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). These enterprises provide mechanisation services, agricultural inputs, and market or process agricultural products, strengthening the agricultural value chain.

The project also enhances working conditions in agriculture by reducing the need for manual labor, benefiting especially women, who perform a large share of agricultural work. By expanding access to mechanisation services, the project contributes to more efficient land cultivation, higher productivity, and improved occupational health and safety.

ICON is conducting the central project evaluation to assess the project’s effectiveness, efficiency, and impact. The evaluation follows a semi-remote approach with an international lead evaluator working remotely and an experienced local evaluator in Ethiopia. Using a theory-based contribution analysis, the evaluation applies a structured methodology to examine project outcomes.

Key components of the evaluation include:

- Reconstruction of the Theory of Change and intervention logic to analyze project outcomes.

- Assessment based on OECD-DAC criteria, evaluating relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability.

- Comprehensive document review to assess project implementation.

- Key informant interviews and focus group discussions to gather qualitative insights.

- Efficiency analysis using the GIZ Efficiency Tool to measure resource allocation and cost-effectiveness.

- Production of key evaluation deliverables, including an inception report, evaluation report, and summary formats in English.

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