Evaluation Of The Project For Restoration Of Livelihoods In The Merged Areas Of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The evaluation of the project assessed the project’s design, its achievements vis-à-vis its objectives, its impact, and its success areas, gaps, and lessons learned through a mixed-methods approach combining in-depth analysis of project documents with direct observations in the field, key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. The evaluation found that the project was successful in meeting or nearly meeting most of the output targets set out including: i) provision of improved/climate-resilient seeds to 22 000 households; ii) established 350 vegetable nurseries; iii) established 500 seasonal vegetable production enterprises; iv) established 200 off-season vegetable production enterprises; v) provided fruit plants planted around vegetable and cereal fields, and in homestead gardens (50 plants/household to 2 000/household); vi) established 50 model demonstration plots of improved variety crops (cereal, vegetables, fodder) established through farmer field schools (FFS); vii) installed 60 High Efficiency Irrigation System (HEIS) tunnels (30 in each district); viii) provided backyard poultry packages to 3 800 women beneficiaries; ix) 2 300 doses of sexed semen (1 150 each for Khyber and Kurram districts) were procured and handed over to Livestock and Dairy Development Department; x) rehabilitated 23 irrigation schemes; and xi) rehabilitated ten fish farm projects. Overall, the evaluation team found the project design to be sound. The theory of change (TOC) is based on clearly articulated causal linkages between individual interventions and the planned objective. However, the project lacked gender-focused interventions. The project also faced delays throughout implementation which were further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations for future projects include review of the FAO’s internal procurement processes to minimize delays, ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of infrastructure (irrigation) schemes through continued beneficiary engagement, provision of integrated support to poultry value chain development, and setting gender-disaggregated activity targets and linking interventions with broader outcomes for women beneficiaries.