Niger Irrigation and Market Access: Evaluation Design Report

The Irrigation and Market Access Project (IMAP) in the Konni irrigation perimeter, part of the $442.6 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact with Niger, aims to enhance agricultural productivity and market access through a series of strategic investments. These investments include the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure, the provision of agricultural support services, and the formalization of land tenure. The IMAP's key components are the Irrigation Perimeter Development Activity, the Management Services and Market Facilitation Activity, and the Policy Reform Activity.

The evaluation design for the IMAP in Konni employs a mixed-methods approach to assess the implementation, outcomes, and sustainability of these investments. The evaluation will be conducted through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, including household surveys, key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), and infrastructure assessments.

Quantitative data will be collected at baseline, midline, and endline to measure changes in agricultural productivity, household income, and food security. The pre-post analysis will estimate the impact of the IMAP activities by comparing outcomes before and after the intervention. Qualitative data will provide insights into the experiences and perceptions of beneficiaries and stakeholders, helping to explain the factors influencing the observed outcomes.

The evaluation will also incorporate remote sensing and satellite imagery to complement survey data, providing a comprehensive understanding of changes in land use and crop yields. This approach ensures a robust assessment of the IMAP's effectiveness in improving agricultural productivity and market access in the Konni irrigation perimeter.

This evaluation design report, commissioned by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), outlines the evaluation design for the Niger Irrigation and Market Access Project (IMAP) in the Dosso-Gaya region. The project aims to enhance agricultural productivity and rural incomes through the development of small-scale irrigation systems, land tenure security, and improved market access. The evaluation employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative analyses to assess the project's impact on agricultural outcomes, income, and food security. Key components include the construction of irrigation infrastructure, capacity building for local institutions, and support for land tenure formalization. The evaluation will also examine the sustainability of project outcomes and the effectiveness of complementary activities such as farmer training and market facilitation. Data collection will occur in three phases: baseline, interim, and endline, with a focus on understanding the project's implementation, outcomes, and long-term impacts.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of the IMAP investments, including the Irrigation Perimeter Development Activity (IPD), the Management Services and Market Facilitation Activity (MSMF), the Roads for Market Access Activity (RMA), and the Policy Reform Activity (PR). It also includes a detailed literature review on the effects of irrigation access, land tenure strengthening, and road improvements on farmers. The evaluation design incorporates a matched comparison group methodology to estimate the impact of SSI investments on key outcomes, and an infrastructure assessment to evaluate the quality and sustainability of the irrigation systems. The report concludes with a discussion of the evaluation risks, limitations, and mitigation steps to ensure the credibility and reliability of the findings.