Fédes Van Rijn | Wageningen University and Research Centre (original) (raw)
Papers by Fédes Van Rijn
Summary-Two of the most apparent reasons why program evaluation, and impact assessment in specifi... more Summary-Two of the most apparent reasons why program evaluation, and impact assessment in specific, takes place are to account for resources used and to generate knowledge so as to improve the design and implementation of future programs. However, while many economic evaluations in the past have satisfied the first purpose it is widely argued that this does not automatically combine with the latter. In the literature several suggestions are made on how to reach a more careful balance between rigorous ( ...
Development in Practice, 2012
Impact of UTZ certification on cocoa producers in Ghana, 2011 to 2014
The cocoa sector is facing a great number of challenges related to smallholder production, such a... more The cocoa sector is facing a great number of challenges related to smallholder production, such as low cocoa tree productivity, low income for farmers and workers, issues regarding labour conditions and environmental impact, such as deforestation. UTZ Certified and Solidaridad have initiated a cocoa programme in Ghana and Ivory Coast that aims to improve sustainability in the cocoa supply chain.
This programme supports cocoa farmers to implement better farming and management practices according to the UTZ Certified Code of Conduct. Stakeholders in the cocoa supply chain are actively engaged in the implementation of the programme. UTZ and Solidaridad expect that, by increasing the sustainability of cocoa cultivation and trade, cocoa production will become a more economically viable option for current and future cocoa farmers, thus enhancing their standard of living. This study presents the impact evaluation of the UTZ-Solidaridad programme implemented in Ghana, analysing the change in performance over a time period of four years (2011–2014) of farmers connected to six cocoa support projects included in the programme. The research was commissioned by Solidaridad and UTZ Certified.
We hope that the findings of this study will help to strengthen the programmes currently being implemented and inform current and future debates on sustainable cocoa production and certification. We are greatly indebted to the farmers for their assistance and the information they have provided us with, as well as the implementing organisations and the hard work done by the survey personnel to collect the field data. We would not have been able to conduct this study without their efforts. We also wish to thank the Solidaridad and UTZ Certified team, who provided us with information on their training and certification approach in Ghana and feedback to the questionnaire and report.
https://www.utz.org/resource-library/?fwp_main_categories=commissioned-studies
European Scientific Journal, Dec 31, 2013
Multi-stakeholder partnerships network which is typified by the FARA-led Integrated Agriculture R... more Multi-stakeholder partnerships network which is typified by the FARA-led Integrated Agriculture Research for Development (IAR4D) of the SSA-Challenge Program is an innovation platform (IP) composed of stakeholders bound together by their individual interests in a shared commodity or outcome. The result from such innovation platforms is largely influenced by the strength of the network. In this paper, similarities within and across platforms are assessed using the simple matching procedure. Results indicate consistency in conduct of Innovation Platform activities. Minor differences in IPs across various regions are consistent with impact outcome observed in the operation of the IPs
Development in Practice, 2012
Agriculture and Human Values, 2015
Many participatory projects in rural Africa aim indirectly to enhance development by promoting di... more Many participatory projects in rural Africa aim indirectly to enhance development by promoting different dimensions of social capital: cooperation in networks (formal or informal), trust, and norms of behavior that encourage mutually beneficial action. However, it is unclear whether these development initiatives can actually influence social capital, especially in the short term. To address this question, we used semi-experimental data to investigate the effects of agricultural research and development (ARD) on various indicators of social capital in the border region of Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC. Specifically, we focused on the effects of the ''Integrated Agricultural Research for Development Approach'' (IAR4D) and compared it to conventional ARD efforts. We show that IAR4D has influenced the level of social capital, although not in all dimensions and not consistently for all countries. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, for example, IAR4D strengthened the networks that link villages to the outside world (bridging social capital), but not in other countries. We also find indications that IAR4D resulted in higher levels of intra-village networks (bonding social capital) in Rwanda and improved trust and norms of cooperation (cognitive social capital) in the DRC. Finally, we showed that traditional agricultural extension (ARD) has been less successful than IAR4D in increasing the level of social capital.
Agricultural Systems, 2012
In this paper we use a novel and extensive dataset to explore the association between different f... more In this paper we use a novel and extensive dataset to explore the association between different forms of social capital and innovation in agriculture, for a sample of African countries. We find mixed evidence. While structural social capital, especially in the form of connections beyond the village, is associated with more extensive adoption of innovations, the reverse is true for cognitive social capital (capturing shared norms and trust within the local community).
Summary-Two of the most apparent reasons why program evaluation, and impact assessment in specifi... more Summary-Two of the most apparent reasons why program evaluation, and impact assessment in specific, takes place are to account for resources used and to generate knowledge so as to improve the design and implementation of future programs. However, while many economic evaluations in the past have satisfied the first purpose it is widely argued that this does not automatically combine with the latter. In the literature several suggestions are made on how to reach a more careful balance between rigorous ( ...
Development in Practice, 2012
Impact of UTZ certification on cocoa producers in Ghana, 2011 to 2014
The cocoa sector is facing a great number of challenges related to smallholder production, such a... more The cocoa sector is facing a great number of challenges related to smallholder production, such as low cocoa tree productivity, low income for farmers and workers, issues regarding labour conditions and environmental impact, such as deforestation. UTZ Certified and Solidaridad have initiated a cocoa programme in Ghana and Ivory Coast that aims to improve sustainability in the cocoa supply chain.
This programme supports cocoa farmers to implement better farming and management practices according to the UTZ Certified Code of Conduct. Stakeholders in the cocoa supply chain are actively engaged in the implementation of the programme. UTZ and Solidaridad expect that, by increasing the sustainability of cocoa cultivation and trade, cocoa production will become a more economically viable option for current and future cocoa farmers, thus enhancing their standard of living. This study presents the impact evaluation of the UTZ-Solidaridad programme implemented in Ghana, analysing the change in performance over a time period of four years (2011–2014) of farmers connected to six cocoa support projects included in the programme. The research was commissioned by Solidaridad and UTZ Certified.
We hope that the findings of this study will help to strengthen the programmes currently being implemented and inform current and future debates on sustainable cocoa production and certification. We are greatly indebted to the farmers for their assistance and the information they have provided us with, as well as the implementing organisations and the hard work done by the survey personnel to collect the field data. We would not have been able to conduct this study without their efforts. We also wish to thank the Solidaridad and UTZ Certified team, who provided us with information on their training and certification approach in Ghana and feedback to the questionnaire and report.
https://www.utz.org/resource-library/?fwp_main_categories=commissioned-studies
European Scientific Journal, Dec 31, 2013
Multi-stakeholder partnerships network which is typified by the FARA-led Integrated Agriculture R... more Multi-stakeholder partnerships network which is typified by the FARA-led Integrated Agriculture Research for Development (IAR4D) of the SSA-Challenge Program is an innovation platform (IP) composed of stakeholders bound together by their individual interests in a shared commodity or outcome. The result from such innovation platforms is largely influenced by the strength of the network. In this paper, similarities within and across platforms are assessed using the simple matching procedure. Results indicate consistency in conduct of Innovation Platform activities. Minor differences in IPs across various regions are consistent with impact outcome observed in the operation of the IPs
Development in Practice, 2012
Agriculture and Human Values, 2015
Many participatory projects in rural Africa aim indirectly to enhance development by promoting di... more Many participatory projects in rural Africa aim indirectly to enhance development by promoting different dimensions of social capital: cooperation in networks (formal or informal), trust, and norms of behavior that encourage mutually beneficial action. However, it is unclear whether these development initiatives can actually influence social capital, especially in the short term. To address this question, we used semi-experimental data to investigate the effects of agricultural research and development (ARD) on various indicators of social capital in the border region of Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC. Specifically, we focused on the effects of the ''Integrated Agricultural Research for Development Approach'' (IAR4D) and compared it to conventional ARD efforts. We show that IAR4D has influenced the level of social capital, although not in all dimensions and not consistently for all countries. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, for example, IAR4D strengthened the networks that link villages to the outside world (bridging social capital), but not in other countries. We also find indications that IAR4D resulted in higher levels of intra-village networks (bonding social capital) in Rwanda and improved trust and norms of cooperation (cognitive social capital) in the DRC. Finally, we showed that traditional agricultural extension (ARD) has been less successful than IAR4D in increasing the level of social capital.
Agricultural Systems, 2012
In this paper we use a novel and extensive dataset to explore the association between different f... more In this paper we use a novel and extensive dataset to explore the association between different forms of social capital and innovation in agriculture, for a sample of African countries. We find mixed evidence. While structural social capital, especially in the form of connections beyond the village, is associated with more extensive adoption of innovations, the reverse is true for cognitive social capital (capturing shared norms and trust within the local community).