Technical assistance and capacity sharing indicators for agricultural cooperatives

Alexandru BEG

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Designing quantity-based activities and outputs indicators for capacity sharing is a crucial component of a project's or organization's theory of change when it comes to development projects from the viewpoint of smallholder farmers. Prior studies on agricultural cooperatives specifically investigate outcome and impact level indicators to assess organizational effectiveness, leaving a void in the literature on research on activities and output level indicators. In order to illustrate what an effective activity and output indicator design in capacity sharing initiatives directed towards agricultural cooperatives looks like, I use document analysis and semi-structured interviews as my primary qualitative research methodologies in this study. Additionally, I triangulate the data and group these indicators into two categories for capacity sharing: technical and organizational. The research finds that technical output indicators in capacity sharing affect a member's particular abilities and capacities and organizational output indicators affect the agricultural cooperative's general management structure. Activity level indicators focus on highlighting the actions conducted to realize the output metrics and have a strong focus on scoping and assessments of the agricultural cooperatives.

Abstract:

Designing quantity-based activities and outputs indicators for capacity sharing is a crucial component of a project's or organization's theory of change when it comes to development projects from the viewpoint of smallholder farmers. Prior studies on agricultural cooperatives specifically investigate outcome and impact level indicators to assess organizational effectiveness, leaving a void in the literature on research on activities and output level indicators. In order to illustrate what an effective activity and output indicator design in capacity sharing initiatives directed towards agricultural cooperatives looks like, I use document analysis and semi-structured interviews as my primary qualitative research methodologies in this study. Additionally, I triangulate the data and group these indicators into two categories for capacity sharing: technical and organizational. The research finds that technical output indicators in capacity sharing affect a member's particular abilities and capacities and organizational output indicators affect the agricultural cooperative's general management structure. Activity level indicators focus on highlighting the actions conducted to realize the output metrics and have a strong focus on scoping and assessments of the agricultural cooperatives.

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 31. 5. 2023

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Mgr. Martin Schlossarek, Ph.D.

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Science

Master programme / field:
Global Development Policy / Global Development Policy