Ethiopia Strategy Support Project - Phase II

Cumulative results achieved over the life of the project (2008-2013) include: a total of 1 233 participants 229 of which were women participated in training. Training workshops were well-received over the life of the project and the number of participants was significantly higher than originally expected. In addition 231 research/policy seminars were held with EDRI and other organizations; 24 IFPRI reports were peer reviewed; 19 major collaborative research studies completed (of which 5 had a substantial gender component); 68% of EDRI personnel in research units participated in training events or joint research; 72 small studies were completed under a competitive grant scheme; 24 major research dissemination events were held with at least 20% female participants; 181% increase in client requests for data research outputs and publications met by IFPRI's electronic Rural Economy Knowledge Support System (REKSS); and 27 high level policy briefs were disseminated by the Policy Communications Unit. ESSP II impacted government policy programme development and implementation. For example ESSP worked with EDRI in research and analysis that provided timely inputs to development exchange rate and wheat price stabilization policy formulation. Analysis of growth and poverty implications of agricultural investments contributed to the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development (CAADP) process. ESSP II also facilitated the impact evaluation of major rural investment programs such as PSNP and AGP. The impact evaluation of these large-scale nation-wide programs has important budgetary implications for donors and the government and has led to rethinking of priorities and to re-designing of implementation practices.