Evaluation of the project “FAO support to the Georgian agricultural sector (European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development [ENPARD III])”

Abstract

This document is a terminal evaluation of the project “FAO support to the Georgian agricultural sector (European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development [ENPARD III])”. The project was funded under the third phase of the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD III) and implemented in Georgia from 1 January 2018 to 30 November 2022. The evaluation’s aim was to assess the overall achievement of the project objectives and outcomes, to evaluate the project’s success, identify good implementation practices, drawbacks, and lessons learned, and to renew the linkages to other projects and partnerships or arrangements in place that have contributed to the adequate implementation of project activities.The evaluation covered the whole project implementation period, including three main areas of concern: i) capacity development of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MEPA); ii) grant support to farmers/agricultural companies; and iii) technical support to famers. A systematic and objective assessment was made of the project design, the project’s implementation and its results in order to determine the project’s relevance and achievement of objectives, but also its efficiency, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability. The evaluation was theory-based and used a utilization-focused and participatory approach. The assessment applied a qualitative approach to collect the data, and utilized the following tools: i) desk review; ii) interviews with project stakeholders; iii) focus group discussions with project end beneficiaries; and iv) field visits to project sites.