Agriculture, Agribusiness and Rural Development

Agriculture, Agribusiness and Rural Development International Development Research, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

Evaluation of the Fertilizer Value Chain in Zambia

In 2019 March Associates was contracted by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to undertake an evaluation of the fertilizer value chain in Zambia. Overall the scope of work for the study was to: (i) identify key players across the various nodes of the fertilizer value chain; (ii) assess the performance of the actors; (iii) evaluate the level and impact of government’s fertilizer programs and interventions on the competitiveness of the fertilizer industry; (iii) evaluate the behaviour of players (firms and other actors) to identify potential anti-competitive practices based on the development of theories of harm; (iv) assess the adequacy of support services and policies and their impact on competitiveness in the fertilizer value chain. They key activities included, data collection and analysis, and main report writing.

Agriculture, Agribusiness and Rural Development International Development Rural Finance, Financial Inclusion and SME Development

Rapid Appraisal for the Africa Agriculture Trade Investment Fund Credit Facility

In 2020, March Associates was engaged to conduct rapid appraisals for the Africa Agriculture Trade Investment Fund (AATIF) credit facilities, namely Mount meru and Africa Milling Limited. The purpose of the Rapid Appraisal was to collect and analyse a selected and limited set of comparable data, as a basis for assessing the overall impact of AATIF and to learn for future investments. The scope for the study entailed the direct operations of Mount Meru (soybeans, sunflower and cotton procurement and processing) and along the cotton supply chain and AML (maize and wheat processing) and the entire maize supply chain (maize farmers and aggregators). The Mount Meru rapid appraisal was conducted between September and October 2020 in Chisamba (Central Province) and Chipata, Katete, Lundazi and Mambwe districts in Eastern Province and data was collected from 163 cotton farmers. Additionally, the AML rapid appraisal was conducted in October 2020 in Chiparamba, Katete and Sinda Districts of Eastern Province and Chilanga, Kafue and Lusaka Districts of Lusaka Province and data was collection from 160 maize farming households. Key activities included, data collection and analysis, writing of two main appraisal reports and impact briefs.

Agriculture, Agribusiness and Rural Development Research, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Rural Finance, Financial Inclusion and SME Development

Baseline Survey for the Empowering Smallholder Cotton Farmers Through Access to Safer and Sustainable Mobile Banking Solutions Project

In 2018 March Associates was contracted by the Cotton Association of Zambia (CAZ) to undertake a baseline survey for the Empowering Smallholder Cotton Farmers through Access to Safer and Sustainable Mobile Banking Solutions Project. The overall objective of the Project baseline survey was to provide baseline values for project performance indicators to enable measurement of performance and impact over the project period. The survey was conducted in Choma, Chipata, Lundazi and Mumbwa Districts. Data was collected from 350 cotton farmers in the aforementioned districts. Key research activities included, data collection and analysis and report writing.

Agriculture, Agribusiness and Rural Development Gender, Women and Youth Development International Development Rural Finance, Financial Inclusion and SME Development

Annual Outcome Survey of the Rural Finance Expansion Programme

In 2021 March Associates was contracted by the Ministry of finance and National Planning to conduct an annual Outcome Survey of the Rural Finance Expansion Program. The overall objective of the survey was to progressively track the program outcomes of increasing access to and use of sustainable financial services for the poor rural women, men and youth in targeted areas. The survey was conducted in Eastern (Petauke, Lundazi and Katete), Lusaka (Chongwe, Kafue and Lusaka), Central (Chibombo, Kapiri Mposhi and Chisamba) and Southern (Monze, Gwembe and Mazabuka) Provinces. Data was collected from 549 beneficiary and non beneficiary households. Key research activities included, data collection and analysis, and report writing.

Agriculture, Agribusiness and Rural Development Gender, Women and Youth Development Public Health, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Maternal and Child Health Research, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Rural Finance, Financial Inclusion and SME Development

NGOCC Baseline Survey for the 2018/2022 Strategic Plan

In 2018 March Associates was contracted by the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) to conduct a baseline survey for the 2018-2022 NGOCC Strategic Plan. The purpose of the survey was to provide baseline information against which NGOCC was to measure the attainment of its objectives during and at the end of the strategic plan implementation period. The survey was conducted in four (4) out of the ten (10) provinces of Zambia – Lusaka (Luangwa, Lusaka and Rufunsa districts), Central (Chibombo, Chisamba, Kabwe, Kapiri Mposhi and Mumbwa districts), North Western (Kasempa and Solwezi districts) and Luapula (Chifunabuli and Mansa districts) where NGOCC operates. The key research activities included, questionnaire development, data collection and analysis, and report writing.

Agriculture, Agribusiness and Rural Development International Development Research, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

Annual Outcome Survey for the Green Innovation Centre for the Agriculture and Food Sectors

March Associates was contracted by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to conduct the 2020 annual household survey (AHS) for the Green Innovations Centres for the Agriculture and Food Sector (GIC) project in Zambia. The overall purpose of the survey was to measure the outcome and adoption indicators for the GIC Project. The survey was conducted in Eastern (Chipata, Katete, Lundazi, Mambwe and Petauke Districts) and Southern (Namwala, Choma and Monze Districts) Provinces. Key research activities included, quantitative data collection from 900 households and qualitative data collection from key stakeholders, data analysis and main and summary report writing.

Agriculture, Agribusiness and Rural Development International Development Research, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation WASH, Environment and Climate Change

Social Monitoring Survey

March Associates was contracted by the BioCarbon Partners (BCP) to undertake the 2022 social monitoring survey. The main objective of the consultancy was to assess community perceptions and household income from participation in BCP’s reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation plus (REDD+) projects – Luangwa community forests project (LCFP) and Lower Zambezi REDD+ project (LZRP). For both the LCFP and LZRP data was collected from 500 households in 18 chiefdoms. The key research activities included, data collection/analysis and writing of two reports.

Agriculture, Agribusiness and Rural Development International Development Research, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

Analysis of Agricultural Policies and Laws in Zambia

In 2017 March Associates was contracted by Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection (JCTR) to undertake an assessment of agricultural policies and laws in Zambia. The overall objective of the assessment was to provide an analysis of agricultural laws and policies focusing on the following four areas – diversification, post-harvest losses, value addition, and marketing within Zambia and beyond its borders. Key research activities included, data collection, document review, main report writing, summary report, an article for the JCTR bulletin and a policy brief.