Seed System Development Research Programme Evaluation Report

The NL-CGIAR Seed Systems Development (SSD) research programme was evaluated positively by an external bureau, MDF. The evaluation concluded that the SSD programme effectively contributed to the programme’s aim to get improved seed and animal seed stock of good quality from breeders to smallholder and family farms in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs).

Key Conclusions

The evaluation concluded that the SSD research programme has been effective in reaching all four programme objectives, namely:

• gain insights in how to increase the contribution of high-quality seed (i.e. seed and propagation materials for crops, livestock and fish) to improve smallholder farmers’ food and income security;
• identify and test how to contribute to improving availability and access of high-quality ‘seed’ for smallholder and family farms, especially faster and on a larger scale than in current practice;
• identify and test how to make value chains for private and public seed and animal seed stock more efficient, sustainable and anchored in a supportive enabling environment;
• strengthen cooperation among CGIAR researchers affiliated to CRPs (CGIAR Research Programmes) and/or Platforms, Dutch researchers and relevant (local) public and private partners.

The nine funded projects produced insights into how to increase the contribution of high-quality seed (objective 1), tested ways to enhance the availability and accessibility of high-quality ‘seed’ for smallholder and family farms (objective 2) as well as the efficiency and sustainability of value chains for private and public seed and animal seed stock, and a more supportive policy environment (objective 3). The research programme has also strengthened the cooperation among CGIAR researchers affiliated with CGIAR research programme (CRPs) and/or platforms, Dutch researchers and relevant (local) public and private partners (objective 4).

Among different possible approaches, the multi-stakeholder approach was found to be very relevant and considered a key strength of the programme, having led to diverse consortia and partnerships. The evaluation also mentions the relevance of the gender- and youth-sensitive approaches that projects used – gender and youth being a specific part of the SSD research programme. These gender and youth-sensitive approaches have led to new insights into the systemic inequalities and challenges faced by women and youth as well as to increased participation of women and youth in seed systems. For example, one of the projects successfully demonstrated a gender-transformative approach to improve last-mile delivery of one-day-old chicks in remote areas through young female vendors. This not only increased women participation in the seed value chain, but also resulted in their increased empowerment.

The evaluation also found that project teams have taken many measures to ensure the sustainability of results beyond the projects' lifetime, such as enabling local farmers to start seed businesses, producing materials training and tools for continued use, collaborating with local partners that can take activities forward. New CGIAR initiatives such as on Nature-Positive Solutions, Seed Equal, and Market Intelligence funding are also likely to take seed systems approaches and knowledge further.

Recommendations

The evaluation contains a number of recommendations to consider for future research programming, e.g.:

• Extend project timelines or embed them in longer-term processes/initiatives.
• Maintain the two-step proposal selection process – including the workshop – due to its success in consortium building.
• Add selection criteria for scale and impact, engagement with policy makers and engagement with private sector.
• Continue programming with a multistakeholder approach, public-private partnerships and local partnerships.
• Strengthen policy engagement in research.

The full list of recommendations can be read in the evaluation report.