Initial assessment

 TOR for an Initial Assessment | What constitutes an initial assessment? | Initial considerations for an initial asssessment | Resources

It is useful during project preparation to establish an initial overview of the policy, institutional, and market context within which potential Ag/NRM subprojects will operate. This will help designers to:

• ensure that community level subprojects are consistent with, and do not run counter to, ongoing national and sector reform efforts;
  
  
• capitalize on lessons learned so as to build on promising areas for success and address key constraints; and
  
  
• provide guidelines and assistance to communities in the selection and design of viable investment opportunities.

What constitutes an initial assessment?

It entails a rapid assessment of relevant Ag/NRM sector-specific policies, institutions and actors and how they affect the potential subprojects being contemplated. The objective is to gain an overall understanding of the various political, social and market forces at play, and lay the groundwork for a strategic approach to Ag/NRM subprojects. The assessment would seek to address the following questions:

Additional considerations for an initial assessment

Project development issues:

• How can the Bank help the borrower in this assessment?
  
  
• What issues arising out of the socio-cultural, political, or institutional context are relevant to the Ag/NRM sector?
  
  
• Are institutional issues likely to impose constraints on the CDD project?
  
  
• Are the CDD project activities likely to be controversial, or are impacts uncertain in the current institutional environment?
  
  
• Does the CDD project's success depend on behavioral change among institutions, organizations, and/or beneficiaries?

Background data:

• If the project had an earlier phase, is relevant information about institutions and organizations available from earlier reports (e.g. mid-term reviews, supervision reports, socioeconomic evaluation studies, or implementation completion reports?
  
  
• Are data or relevant analytical institutional information available for the Ag/NRM sector?
  
  
• Are institutional assessments or other studies available for Bank-supported projects in the country? From other international development agencies, in-country government agencies, or in-country researchers (e.g. local universities, research institutions, NGOs).

Resources