Background

The Coalition to Diversify Income through Underused Crops (CoDI) is a group of organisations in India and Vietnam, led by Crops for the Future. The project was designed to provide resource-poor farmers with new income opportunities. Funded by DFID's Research into Use (RIU) Program 2008-2011, the coalition provided community services for production, post-harvest and marketing of underutilized, traditional and niche crops (UC), to help disadvantaged people in India and Vietnam to have better market access for sustainable income generate, and to have more options for better land husbandry. The project operated through Food Processing Parks, Community Germplasm Orchards and Village Crop Fairs. The knowledge generated through the project was shared to a wider community through Annual Knowledge Fairs (AKFs).

Activities undertaken by WII:

WII was responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive Monitoring, Impact and Learning (MIL) system, which has captured impacts on the beneficiaries' household income, skill development and related parameters. Monitoring Impact and learning (MIL) component has facilitated in development of data management protocol and also in creation of different communication products. The data management protocol prepared as part of the project has facilitated in keeping track of the different data generated through the project across the project sites. Adopting a flexible and adaptable MIL plan has helped in successful implementation of the project. A base line assessment was also undertaken by WII. It was designed based on the International Household Survey guidelines. The baseline data collected has ensured that the CoDI project is catering to the section of the population it wants to serve. The data has also highlighted the need for capacity building of the beneficiaries within the project site for capacity building in terms of post harvest and other necessary agronomic practices. The MIL includes a communication strategy to facilitate dialogue and influence policy. This monitoring and learning component contributes to broader efforts, beyond the immediate countries involved, to develop mechanisms for spotting 'future winners' at an early project development stage.