The final evaluation of the project "Boosting Rural and Rurban Economy in Times of Crisis and Beyond" (BOOST) was commissioned by the World Food Programme (WFP) in Nicaragua. BOOST was implemented from 2018 to 2024 and aimed to promote sustainable and resilient agri-food systems in five departments and one autonomous region of Nicaragua. The support package included three components (including gender-transformative approaches): support to smallholder farmers and their cooperatives in the production of basic grain and market access; links with the National School Feeding Programme of the Ministry of Education; and support to the creation of home gardens by vulnerable (peri-)urban families. The European Union was the main donor of the project.
The evaluation covered the entire implementation period of the project and served the double purpose of accountability and learning. It adopted a theory-based approach using the Qualitative Impact Assessment Protocol (QuIP) to answer evaluation questions linked to different evaluation criteria (relevance and coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability) and gender equality and empowerment of women. Primary data were collected during a two-week field mission and remotely. The evaluation team conducted (i) interviews at national and local levels with WFP staff, government institutions, the donor, technical staff and management of cooperatives; as well as focus group discussions with beneficiaries of all project components; (ii) direct observation during field visits; (iii) a comprehensive document review; and (iv) an analysis of existing M&E data.
In addition to the evaluation report, a short video with a summary of evaluation results was produced for dissemination purposes. Both products are available at: https://www.wfp.org/publications/nicaragua-evaluacion-final-del-proyecto-boost-2018-2024