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A shift in how to measure well-being using more appropriate and coherent indicators has been long called for. Nonetheless, monetary indicators, such as income and GDP, or utilitarian frameworks, remain the most common approaches used. The capability approach (CA) has been advocated as an alternative framework to measure well-being. This paper aims to capture the state-of-the-art of how the CA has been applied to assess or characterise the well-being impacts of project-based development interventions in Global South countries. The ultimate goal is to discuss whether the CA provides more varied and complex indicators of well-being and therefore more comprehensive impact assessments. The results highlight that qualitative and participatory approaches are frequently applied methods to assess individual capabilities, most often related to educational, economic, social and empowerment dimensions. Capabilities linked to environmental and recreational activities, as well as collective capabilities, were significantly overlooked. Quantitative approaches to impact evaluation were less frequently used. This paper provides a first systematic review on the use of the CA to assess well-being impacts. Future applications of the CA could focus on better integration of qualitative and quantitative approaches for robust impact assessments and targeting understudied capabilities.

Evaluators widely utilize theory of change or impact pathway approaches to design and evaluate interventions. In research settings, there is increasing demand for ex ante impact pathways that are place-based, coherent, and plausible, in order to foster more impactful interventions. Foresight approaches, which enable a collaborative, structured, and systematic way to anticipate, prepare, and affect the course of change, can help achieve this by exploring diverse future scenarios, the consequences of different assumptions, or how to overcome threats and leverage opportunities for change. Through three case examples, we show how foresight tools used prior to developing impact pathways can free participants from preconceived notions of the intervention's context, actors, and impacts, and thus support creative and systemic analyses of the future to rethink the present. They extend the analysis of how different actors can shape the future, identifying effects that might otherwise be overlooked or marginalized during the planning and evaluation of the intervention, while also helping to identify the conditions necessary for desired impacts. Nonetheless, their use entails evaluative judgments about the potential impacts to be prioritized in intervention design and evaluation. This is especially relevant in the case of research where scientific or technical aspects are usually prioritized. Finally, there is an entry cost to foresight tools for evaluators, in particular for the facilitation of strategic thinking about the future. However, we recommend them as a worthwhile addition to the evaluator's toolbox to broaden the scope of design and evaluation.

In Cameroon, the afforestation of degraded savannah through cocoa agroforestry is a grassroots innovation that is spreading on semi-arid lands. This study aims to understand the support services which drive the process of this innovation according to farmers and build performance indicators for those services. The data used were collected through individual interviews, focus groups, and workshops with farmers and other stakeholders of the process. Academic and non-academic literature was also used. The analytical process was mostly inductive. The Impact of Research in the South (Impress) ex-post approach serves to build the historical timeline. Then a thematic analysis serves to categorize the performance indicators. Starting in 1930, the afforestation of degraded savannah through the cocoa agroforestry process has three main phases. The first phase, from 1930 to 2003 is characterized by pioneers' experimentations and sensibilization of their siblings and the innovators beneficiated from generic public support services for the cocoa sector. During the second phase, from 2003 to 2014 the creation of local financing services and the intervention of international researchers leads to the identification of agroforestry associations with higher yields and accelerates the adoption of the innovation. During the third phase, despite the withdrawal of research, public and private support services, the innovation continues to spread through the migration of farmers. The main services identified by cocoa growers are first training to develop skills, then material and financial support to start and expand their activity. Generally, farmers evaluate performance with posture, attitudes, and competencies of service suppliers while the latter's criteria are quantitative. Generally, although farmers consider training as essential to build skills they aim to get autonomous from support services in their activity. These results call for the dedication of specific services to this inno

Payments for environmental services (PES) have been widely studied as one possible way to counter deforestation and support livelihoods. Given the high rates of deforestation in the Amazon region, it is important to study under which conditions PES have positive environmental and social outcomes. We contribute to this debate through a systematic review based on the Realist Evaluation framework. First, we review case studies to identify configurations of social-ecological factors (context), PES design and implementation (resource mechanisms), people's responses (reasoning mechanisms), and the results in terms of forest conservation and people's livelihoods (outcomes). Second, we develop a middle-range theory of how, for whom, and under what conditions PES in the Amazon achieve these results. After screening 972 articles in the SCOPUS, Scielo, and WorldCat databases, we reviewed 13 articles in-depth that contained all the elements (context-mechanism-outcomes) needed to identify these configurations. Our results show that PES in the Amazon generate positive environmental and social outcomes when they: (a) combine cash and in-kind incentives, (b) raise environmental awareness through capacity building, (c) engage socially and ethnically diverse stakeholders through equitable and inclusive approaches, (d) apply transparent spatial targeting, (e) guarantee strong conditionality through robust monitoring of compliance, and (f) guarantee stable delivery of payments.

White-grain sorghum is an important food crop for resource-poor farmers of the dry belt of Central America. From 2002 to 2008, a participatory breeding program (PB) was implemented with local farmer groups in the Northern region of Nicaragua, aiming to develop sorghum varieties adapted to local cropping systems and farmers' needs. From 2020 to 2022 an ex post impact evaluation of this program was carried out by Cirad and the farmer Union FECODESA using the “ImpresS” method. A detailed impact pathway and timeline of the innovation process were developed. Participatory workshops with farmers and institutional actors allowed to identify 20 impact descriptors and to refine the links between outputs, outcomes and impacts in the impact pathway. Translated into indicators, these impacts were assessed through a household survey with 127 farmers, focus-group interviews as well as secondary data. We found that 90% of interviewed farmers growing sorghum were still using varieties from this program. Among these varieties, one photoperiod- insensitive and one photoperiod-sensitive are cultivated by 76% and 29% of farmers respectively. The program enabled farmers access and evaluate directly in their own farming conditions a broad genetic diversity and thereby identify those varieties most resilient to the extreme climatic events and suited to local cropping systems as well as bringing resistance to sugarcane aphid that local cultivars do not have. Further the new varieties have improved grain quality for local food preparations. Major impacts perceived by respondents include better availability and access to quality seed, changes in sorghum production towards agroecological practices, and improved food security. This program also contributed to strengthen the local farmer organizations. Comparing these results to those of sorghum PB programs implemented in Burkina Faso during the decade 2002-2012 enables us to understand internal and external factors driving the innovation proce

Les crises environnementales représentent à la fois une préoccupation sociale et un enjeu politique, entrainant des mutations au sein des administrations et dans les rapports de force entre les diverses parties prenantes. Dans cet article, nous explorons le cas de l'adaptation de la société antillaise à la pollution par la chlordécone, un insecticide organochloré utilisé dans les bananeraies de Guadeloupe et Martinique entre 1972 et 1993. Depuis le début de la crise liée à la révélation de la pollution en l'an 2000, les scientifiques et experts ont apporté leur éclairage sur les caractéristiques et effets de la chlordécone afin d'alimenter la prise de décision des acteurs, en particulier ceux de la sphère publique. Nous abordons ici la question la contribution de la recherche à la gestion de cette crise environnementale et aux réponses des acteurs publiques entre 2000 et 2020. Cette question a été traitée en adaptant la méthode ImpresS d'évaluation rétrospective, développée par le CIRAD (Barret et al., 2017), et en analysant la contribution des projets et produits de recherche. Dix-neuf entretiens ont été réalisés auprès d'acteurs concernés par la question du chlordécone complétés par une analyse bibliographique. Nos résultats montrent comment la recherche a appuyé l'évolution des politiques publiques vers des visions systémiques des conséquences environnementales de la crise. En parallèle, la recherche a également vécu des changements de posture et interaction pour répondre à des enjeux et défis complexes. Trois chemins façonnent la contribution de la recherche aux politiques publiques en réponse à la crise environnementale étudiée : (1) le chemin de la prévention ; (2) le chemin de la vulgarisation ; et (3) le chemin de l'action publique. Ces trois chemins ont mené à des impacts dans les champs politiques, économiques-sanitaires et sociaux. La recherche a contribué à ces impacts en particulier en favorisant : (1) la collaboration entre différentes parties prenante

Les changements de perceptions et d'attentes des sociétés concernant la recherche agricole, et l'ampleur des défis qu'affrontent les sociétés en développement imposent des évolutions à un organisme de recherche tel que le Cirad. Les évolutions entreprises sont de natures institutionnelles, épistémologiques, axiologiques, scientifiques et opérationnelles. Elles supposent la prise en compte de la diversité des acteurs sociétaux, la double redevabilité Nord/Sud et les productions du Cirad. L'établissement pose plusieurs fondations aux évolutions : 1/ la prégnance des défis, qui posent la question d'une science capable de les relever, de générer et d'accompagner les processus d'innovation requis, 2/ le mandat de recherche finalisée, 3/ les valeurs, et trois piliers d'action : exemplarité, ouverture, engagement pour le développement durable. Ce dernier pilier est particulièrement développé car il relève du coeur de métier du Cirad, et y fait l'objet d'évolutions marquées : l'action publique, les recherches participatives, la contribution à des impacts sociétaux et leur évaluation.

Development projects are often anchored in short timeframes that limit the possibility of creating a continuum across projects and building a collective “living memory” based on the accumulation of experiences and interactions. Taking stock of the influences of projects on a place is important for research-for-development projects, which are characterised by long-term dynamics and a learning posture. Impact evaluation approaches can help capture, develop, and mobilise this “living memory”. Using the case of the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), we examine how researchers at an institute with a development mandate capitalise their experiences. We explore the added value of reflexive approaches developed by CIRAD in particular the role played by participation in building collective memories at different levels. The results provide insights into how to integrate the past into the design and implementation of research interventions, and thus increase relevance of projects. It offers a methodological reflection on the creation and use of research-for-development memory.

Este reporte presenta la evaluación final del proyecto, que se condujo entre enero y mayo 2022 a través de una revisión documentaria, un taller participativo con todos los integrantes del proyecto y entrevistas de validación de los cambios identificados con los representantes de las instituciones socias.

In the West African Sahel, climate variability and climate change pose huge challenges to food security and health, particularly for poor and marginalised population groups. Co-production of actionable climate information between scientists and users has been advocated to increase its use in adaptation to climate change. Consequently, Weather and Climate Services (WCS) co-production models have been expanding, but there have been few evaluations of their effects, and those that exist mostly focus on the end user. The empirical contribution of this paper is an evidence based evaluation of the scaling of WSC co-production models and its enabling factors. The methodological contribution is a systemic and iterative evaluation method involving multiple analytical tools. The scaling of WCS in Senegal involved at least 161 actors and resulted in five axes of transformation: 1) continuous improvement of WCS, 2) emergence and consolidation of WCS facilitators, 3) inclusion of WCS in action planning, 4) active mobilisation to sustain WCS scaling, and 5) empowerment of actors. New users and uses emerged beyond agriculture, involving the fisheries, water and energy sectors, producing changes in institutional communication strategies, operational planning, and in coordination between actors. Enabling factors for scaling included capacity strengthening, knowledge-sharing and action platforms, interaction opportunities, and financial and political support. However, reduced precision of forecasts over time is perceived. New challenges are emerging including improving delivery and finer grain information, getting the private sector involved, and building capacity and trust at a large scale, to keep pace with the increase in uses and users.

Food systems need to focus more on health, prosperity, and environmental sustainability. This requires changes in what, where, how and by whom food is produced, marketed, and consumed. Interdisciplinary research and trans-disciplinary collaboration are needed. Stakeholders need to agree on their respective roles, values, responsibilities and modus operandi so that research better responds to real-world challenges and opportunities. This viewpoint argues that this is especially the case in the Global South post Covid-19. Without these changes, there will continue to be unrealistic expectations of impact from agricultural research, and disappointment when these are not realised.

Few longitudinal studies link agricultural biodiversity, land use and food access in rural landscapes. In this paper, we test the hypothesis that, in a context of economic change, cash crop expansion is associated with deforestation, reduced agrobiodiversity and changes in food access. For this purpose, we analysed data collected from the same 53 upland and floodplain mestizo households in Ucayali, Peru, in 2000 and 2015. We found an emerging transition towards less diversified food access coupled with loss of forest cover and reduced agricultural biodiversity. In 2015, diets appeared to rely on fewer food groups, fewer food items, and on products increasingly purchased in the market compared to 2000. Wild fruits and plants were mentioned, but rarely consumed. Agricultural production systems became more specialised with a shift towards commercial crops. Peak deforestation years in the 15-year period appeared linked with incentives for agricultural expansion. Our results suggest an overall trend from diversified productive and “extractive” systems and more diverse food access, towards specialized productive systems, with less diverse food access and stronger market orientation (both in production and consumption). The assumption in the food and agricultural sciences that increased income and market-orientation is linked to improved food security, is challenged by our integrated analyses of food access, agrobiodiversity, land use and forest cover. Our results highlight the importance of longitudinal, multidimensional, systemic analyses, with major implications for land use, food and health policies. The potential risks of parallel homogenisation of diets and agricultural production systems require interdisciplinary research and policies that promote integrated landscape approaches for sustainable and inclusive food systems.

PR, IFPRI3; ISI; CRP5; Capacity Strengthening; 1 Fostering Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food Supply, EPTD, CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)