International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is a research for development organisation that is part of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The world’s premier rice research organisation is dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations.
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
IRRI’s ClimatePRO project in Odisha promotes climate resilient rice-based systems with a focus on crop diversification, decentralised seed systems, and women’s entrepreneurship. It is supported under the OIIPCRA project of the Department of Water Resources (DoWR) and Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of the Government of Odisha, aided by the World Bank.
SATTVA”S APPROACH
As part of this engagement with IRRI, Sattva established a Concurrent Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (CMEL) system for the ClimatePRO project.
- Sattva conducted a desk review and field visit to understand the project context.
- A Theory of Change (ToC) for the project was created in collaboration with IRRI – by establishing the causal pathways, identifying the stakeholders, and highlighting the key assumptions and risks.
- A Results-based Management (RBM) framework was developed with output, outcome, and impact indicators for the project along with aspects such as frequency of measurement, source of data, disaggregation, etc.
- Sattva also designed the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, and Learning (MERL) Plan for the project to support the ClimatePRO team with the operationalisation of the ToC and the RBM Framework. Capacity building sessions were conducted, to equip the IRRI team to implement the plan, and Standard Operating Procedures were created to ensure standardised implementation.
Roles of stakeholders such as value chain actors, enablers/collaborators of the project, implementation agencies and funders were accounted for while designing the CMEL system.
OUTCOME of SATTVA’S ASSISTANCE
Establishment of a robust CMEL system will help in driving a systematised results management and learning for the project team. The ToC will give the project team clarity on the underlying risks and assumptions, and pathways that lead to the intended impact of the ClimatePRO project. The RBM framework will ensure that the project has defined indicators to track and make informed decisions during the course of the project. The MERL plan, capacity building trainings and the SOP will ensure that the IRRI team can make M&E an integral part of the ClimatePRO project and independently navigate and update the M&E system as per the evolving needs. Overall, this engagement will aid in improved data utilisation and decision making and add to the effectiveness of ClimatePRO project delivery.
QUOTE
“Systematic monitoring & learning is critical to distil lessons on what works & what does not, in promoting diversification of rice-based systems in fallows [bare land with no crops] to provide a basis for scaling strategies. An enriching partnership with Sattva!”
