Improving Agricultural Impact: Empowering INGOs to Establish and Enhance Their Food Security Programs

By David Stallings Vanderpool

Improving Agricultural Impact: Empowering INGOs to Establish and Enhance Their Food Security Programs is a transformative resource designed to equip international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) with the tools, strategies, and insights necessary to improve food security in developing communities. With a strong emphasis on practicality and impact, this comprehensive guide navigates through the complexities of designing, implementing, and managing agricultural development programs that yield meaningful results.
Examining the core aspects of successful INGO-led agricultural development, this book presents a holistic framework that empowers communities to achieve lasting transformation. From crafting a clear mission statement to establishing outcome-driven goals, every step is meticulously outlined to ensure that the program's purpose remains steadfast and impactful. The Logic Model approach serves as the foundation, facilitating systematic planning and strategic alignment that resonates with both local contexts and overarching objectives.
Written by the international agriculture experts at IDEA, their extensive experience in international development unveils a wealth of insights and practical methodologies that underline the importance of community engagement and stakeholder buy-in. Grounded in real world experiences and data-driven insights, the guide illustrates how strategic planning, innovative tactics, and well-defined activities synergize to build local capacity, enhance livelihoods, and foster community resilience. This manual guides readers through the nuanced process of creating an effective exit strategy, ensuring that the positive changes catalyzed by the program are sustained beyond its conclusion.
"Improving Agricultural Impact" transcends theoretical discourse by providing practical templates, case studies, and step-by-step guides that INGOs can apply in diverse contexts. It demonstrates how strategic choices impact outcomes, encourages adaptive learning, and embraces innovation as a catalyst for progress. With a robust emphasis on sustainability and impact assessment, this book serves as a trusted companion for INGOs seeking to make a meaningful difference in agricultural communities. Whether you are a seasoned development professional or a newcomer to the field, "Improving Agricultural Impact" provides an actionable roadmap for igniting positive change and fostering prosperous agricultural communities worldwide.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781312231580

Book preview

Improving Agricultural Impact:

Empowering INGOs to Establish and Enhance Their Food Security Programs

David Stallings Vanderpool

Dallas, Texas

Copyright

Copyright © 2023 David Stallings Vanderpool

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

To request permissions, contact the author at [e-mail].

Ebook ISBN: 9781312231580

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023946219

First ebook edition September of 2023.

Edited by Devin Vanderpool.

Category:

Social Science

BISAC Main Category:

SOCIAL SCIENCE / Agriculture & Food (see also POLITICAL SCIENCE / Public Policy / Agriculture & Food Policy)

BISAC Category 2:

POLITICAL SCIENCE / Public Policy / Agriculture & Food Policy (See also SOCIAL SCIENCE / Agriculture & Food)

BISAC Category 3:

SOCIAL SCIENCE / Developing & Emerging Countries

Published by International Development Extension Agency

Dallas, Texas

www.IDEA.ag

Dedication

Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor,

but it is swept away by injustice.

To all those who worry where their next meal will come from…

Preface

There are too many organizations working throughout the world with great intentions and hard effort but minimal impact. If your organization suffers from unrealized potential then know that you are not alone. Agricultural development and food security programs do not need to be so hard. So why are they? Your international organization is dedicated to serving communities to become more resilient and sustainably healthy. Yet, droughts, pests, conflicts, and a lack of infrastructure inhibit the production, transportation, delivery, and consumption of quality food. Limited extension services and educational opportunities prevent many chances for improvement. Obstacles abound.

The International Development Extension Agency, IDEA, empowers communities throughout the world to improve their food security by equipping farmers, agribusinesses, INGOs, and government agencies with the training and guidance necessary for success. IDEA utilizes its decades of international experience, advanced academic degrees, and vast network of experts to support development-focused organizations in all corners of the earth to implement agricultural development programs. IDEA’s consultations focus on establishing and improving agriculture programs with field-tested practices that achieve quality impact.

This book has been borne from our experiences and observations. We understand the challenges of accomplishing your food security goals. At IDEA, we appreciate your desire to improve your programs and increase the food security of your communities. To begin, you must assess your community’s needs that limit agricultural productivity, identify their farming assets for development, and offer potential solutions for growth while including the community throughout the process. The challenge is knowing what projects will result in the impact you and your community desire, which can leave you feeling helpless. We believe every organization has the potential to improve the food security of their communities.

Your hard work and efforts should have a sustainable impact. IDEA’s team of experienced agriculturalists and development workers are here to equip your organization with the knowledge and frameworks that will best enable you to serve your communities. IDEA has over 25 years of experience working with INGOs on development projects in over 40 countries around the world and 100 agriculture project templates to choose from to empower your INGO.

By contracting IDEA to co-design your program you will achieve impacts based on field-tested methodologies, rigorous surveys, and data-driven assessments to find creative solutions for your unique situation. Meet twice a month with IDEA for coaching, mentoring, and resourcing. Leverage IDEA’s expertise and analysis by utilizing our on-site consultation services to create an even bigger impact. Empower your communities to improve their food security through sustainable agriculture development projects with IDEA’s global network of partners. Provide the highest quality services with the greatest results to your communities.

IDEA understands the value of your investment. Your organization is committed to responsibly funding programming in your communities while also communicating with your family of donors. IDEA’s DevCoaching provides monthly, quarterly, and annual reports on the progress of your programming. Program impact reports from IDEA prove your program’s true value. This Monitoring, Evaluation, Analysis, Learning, & Sharing (MEALS) data not only reflects the impact of our partnership but effectively tells the story of the outcomes you are achieving for you to use in fundraising. By contracting with IDEA, you will receive an exponential return on your investment.

Don’t continue alone in the slow struggle to fight food insecurity in the community you serve. Contract IDEA to ensure that your next agriculture project will succeed and accomplish your goals. You can make a difference. We can help.

A green logo with a globe and leaves Description automatically generated

www.IDEA.ag

Introduction

Food is the moral right of all who are born into this world.

⸺Norman Borlaug

Every program needs a purpose, every operation a mission statement, and every leader a vision. So what is yours? You may have a direction towards which you are striving. You may be motivated by strong beliefs and feelings. But unless they are spelled out, written down, proclaimed, and internalized they will fail to truly materialize your dream into reality.

Your purpose, mission, and vision is unique and therefore cannot completely be molded into its perfection by the counsel found below. This field manual, however, is intended to serve more as an inspiration and guide by which you can discern the nature of your intentions. Write, rewrite, edit, and write again your thoughts and expectations and bring them to fruition over the course of your continuous draft of life. And if the instructions below do not do justice to your ambitions then toss them out and start again. But most importantly, solidify your ephemeral ideas with ink, bytes, and intentional thought.

Philosophy

What is the overarching purpose of your organization or your specific program? What is the why behind what you do and how you do it? What drives and motivates you to work, serve, and accomplish? What are the beliefs that underpin your mission? Ask yourself these questions and constantly refine your answers. Too often organizations define themselves by what they do rather than by what they are attempting to accomplish. What you do is important, but it must work towards an end goal. Identify that and strive towards it.

We feed children. OK, but why? Are the children hungry? Are you working to eradicate child hunger? Are you working with a specific demographic or with hungry kids anywhere and everywhere? Are they malnourished and you are working to help them be healthier? How are you feeding them and why do you implement this method? Is it by importing food or by bolstering the local agriculture sector? Was there a famine that initiated your work and now you are continuing to feed the youth in the area even though the famine has passed? Or was the famine simply what got you started?

Define your why behind your how and what so that you can better understand your own philosophy. This must be memorized, internalized, and frequently repeated. Your raison d’etre. Maybe this sets you apart from similar organizations. Maybe you can identify and define your niche. Or maybe this can help you focus on what truly motivates you rather than staying busy with activities that simply occupy your time. This philosophy should motivate you to diligently pursue the outcomes intended in your programs and projects.

Write out your reason to be, your mission statement, and your program’s purpose. Below is an example of what it could look like. Make it your own. In the following sections, this will be fleshed out further, but pen your ideas now so that you can adjust and improve them given more time for reflection.

At [insert the name of your organization], we are dedicated to [eradicating poverty; ending world hunger; providing disadvantaged youth with educational opportunities in the arts; etc.] because we believe that [poverty is the result of sin; no one should wonder where their next meal comes from; every child deserves the beauty of art; etc].

This is how we at IDEA explain our purpose. We use passionate language that expresses our commitment. We explain the why behind how and what we do. This passage tells who we work with, where we work, and the true motivation behind our existence. It is unlikely that your mission statement will be identical or necessarily even similar to ours, but hopefully you can find inspiration in our thought process.

At IDEA, we are dedicated to empowering the global community with food security and agricultural development projects that ensure opportunities for their sustainably healthy future. We do this because we believe that food security is an imperative and natural right common to all and that to share our blessings with others is the fulfillment of our moral purpose.

Why Write My Why?

Building your Theory of Change & Logic Model and writing out the reason, mission, purpose, intended outcomes, exit strategy, implementation strategies, tactics, activities, MEALS plan, roles & responsibilities, surveys & assessments, metrics & targets, rhythm, and stakeholder engagement & leadership buy-in plan of an organization or program before initiating its implementation is crucial for several reasons:

Clarity and Focus: Clearly articulating these elements provides a clear direction and focus for the organization or program. It ensures that all stakeholders have a shared understanding of the purpose, objectives, and intended outcomes. This clarity helps guide decision-making, resource allocation, and day-to-day operations.

Alignment and Consistency: Documenting these details ensures alignment between the organization's or program's activities and its overall mission and purpose. It helps ensure that all actions and initiatives are consistent with the intended outcomes and strategies. This alignment promotes efficiency, minimizes duplication of efforts, and maximizes the impact of the organization or program.

Stakeholder Engagement: Clearly written statements and plans facilitate effective stakeholder engagement. When stakeholders — including staff, partners, donors, and communities — have a clear understanding of the organization's or program's purpose, intended outcomes, and strategies, they are more likely to engage actively and meaningfully. This engagement fosters collaboration, enhances participation, and strengthens relationships.

Resource Planning and Allocation: Written statements and plans enable effective resource planning and allocation. They help identify the resources — including financial, human, and logistical — needed to achieve the intended outcomes. With a clear understanding of the strategies, tactics, and activities, the organization or program can allocate resources efficiently, optimize resource utilization, and make informed decisions regarding resource mobilization.

Accountability and Evaluation: Written statements and plans provide a basis for accountability and evaluation. They serve as a benchmark against which the organization's or program's progress and achievements can be measured. With clearly defined metrics and targets, it becomes easier to track performance, assess the effectiveness of strategies, and evaluate whether the intended outcomes are being achieved. This accountability and evaluation help in adaptive management, learning, and continuous improvement.

Communication and Stakeholder Buy-In: Clearly documented elements enhance communication and stakeholder buy-in. By having these statements and plans readily available, the organization or program can effectively communicate its purpose, objectives, and strategies to various stakeholders. This transparent communication builds trust, garners support, and fosters stakeholder buy-in. It also facilitates better understanding and collaboration among internal and external stakeholders.

Strategic Decision-Making: Having these items documented empowers strategic decision-making. When faced with challenges, opportunities, or changes in the operating environment, the organization or program can refer back to its written statements and plans to guide decision-making. This ensures that decisions align with the organization's or program's mission and purpose and are informed by the intended outcomes, strategies, tactics, and metrics.

By writing out the Theory of Change & Logic Model, reason, mission, purpose, intended outcomes, exit strategy, implementation strategies, tactics, activities, MEALS plan, roles & responsibilities, surveys & assessments, metrics & targets, rhythm, and stakeholder engagement & leadership buy-in plan of an organization or program before initiating its implementation establishes clarity, alignment, stakeholder engagement, resource planning, accountability, communication, and strategic decision-making. It provides a strong foundation for effective implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, leading to improved performance, impact, and sustainability.

This book follows a simple formulaic structure where every chapter begins with why the subject is important to your organization, how your organization can adopt and choose its own topics, and finally what (examples) your organization can implement as it advances through the process of improving its programming. By beginning with the why behind the how and the what you can lay a strong foundation for everything you build. Thoroughly understand your purpose, and the strategies, tactics, and other details will follow more naturally.

Define Your Terms

Defining terms within an International Non-Governmental Organizations’ (INGO's) agricultural development program is of paramount importance because it establishes a clear and shared understanding of the key concepts, terminology, and language used in the program. This clarity is essential for effective communication, collaboration, and alignment