This project marks the beginning of our learning journey
TechnoServe aims to provide sustainable, business-driven solutions to poverty. Working in Ethiopia since 2009, the organization is known for its strong expertise in the coffee sector. This project was the first investment of the Max and Ingeborg Herz Foundation and focused on TechnoServe’s core approach: the Coffee Farm College.
KEY FACTS
WHERE
Ethiopia (Sidama Region)
WHO
TechnoServe (Implementation) & Laterite, IFPRI (Evaluation)
WHEN
Jan 2019 – Apr 2023
GOAL
Improve coffee productivity
REACH
67.000 farmers
EVALUATION
Difference in Difference
KEY IMPACT METRIC
12%
increase of adoption of four out of eight recommended coffee agronomy practices
KEY FACTS
WHERE
Ethiopia (Sidama Region)
WHO
TechnoServe (Implementation) & Laterite, IFPRI (Evaluation)
WHEN
Jan 2019 – Apr 2023
GOAL
Improve coffee productivity
REACH
67.000 farmers
EVALUATION
Difference in Difference
IMPACT
12%
increase of adoption of four out of eight recommended coffee agronomy practices
Approach
TechnoServe implemented their core approach, the two-year Coffee Farm College. This group-based training approach with theoretical and practical lessons on good agricultural practices aims to increase coffee productivity and climate-resilience of coffee farms.
Within the project, farmers were trained in eight recommended coffee agronomy practices with a strong focus on coffee rejuvenation through stumping.
EVALUATION & LEARNING
The project was externally evaluated by the research firm Laterite and the research institute IFPRI via a quasi-experimental study design (matched Difference in Difference).
The main goal of the evaluation was to assess its effect on
- knowledge dissemination and
- adoption of good agricultural practices.
The project was accompanied by several pilot studies, e.g., to assess the effectiveness of incentives to increase stumping adoption, yield measurement methodologies and yield effects of stumping.
Learn more about our insights and learnings in the publications below.
IMPACT
The project achieved the following outcomes:
- Increase of adoption of four out of eight recommended coffee agronomy practices by 12%
- Adoption of stumping increased by 9% (2019) and 32% (2020), averaging 10–20 stumped trees per household
- Coffee yield from stumped trees increased by 21–23%*
*Yield estimates are based on a yield study conducted after the project in the same area. We expect this to be a conservative estimate due to the limited study design. Read the full report below.
Overall, although the project promoted the adoption of good agricultural practices, it did not fully achieve the expected outcomes. However, many learnings were generated how to improve the approach and generate more impact for farmers. Learn more in the Final Impact Report below.
RESOURCES
- FINAL IMPACT REPORT (coming soon)
- COFFEE YIELD MEASUREMENT PILOT (download report)
- COFFEE YIELD STUDY (download report)