Case study atlas
Harnessing Insights for Agricultural Success: Lessons from New Zealand's International Development Efforts
Synthesising evidence from about 50 agriculture activities into a practical guide to factors that support project success.
The challenge
MFAT's International Development Cooperation (IDC) programme spans sectors like health, education and agriculture across the Pacific, Asia and beyond. Between 2014 and 2018 it backed around 50 agriculture initiatives, which together generated close to 2,000 pages of reports. While each report offered unique insights, collectively they held the potential to pinpoint crucial success factors that could enhance future projects, and MFAT sought to streamline access to these insights for its staff.
What we did
- Helen Bradford from Capire was engaged to synthesise the extensive information into a single, accessible document, distilling the findings into actionable insights that MFAT staff could readily apply to new projects.
- Through interviews and group discussions, identified what staff needed to know and structured the document accordingly.
Outputs
01 "Agriculture Activity Insights", a concise 30-page report highlighting 20 critical factors for project success, categorised into four themes: project design, project partners, project environment, and project management — a practical guide for project managers, assessors, and decision-makers in the agriculture sector.
Outcomes
Empowering MFAT and its partners The "Agriculture Activity Insights" document has proven invaluable for MFAT and its partners, encapsulating lessons learned from various agriculture activities. It has become essential reading for new staff in the agriculture sector and is increasingly shared with NGO partners and prospective commercial suppliers. By building on these insights, MFAT aims to ensure more successful agriculture projects, particularly in regions like the Pacific Islands.
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