Introduction

Impact Assessment has been an integral part of WARDA’s economics research program since 1990. Impact assessment activities are managed by the Impact Assessment unit which is under program 4 of the Africa Rice Centre. The goal of the impact assessment unit is to enhance income and food security in Africa through sustainable rice sector development engendered by the widespread adoption of rice technologies, improved farming practices, favorable policies, effective institutions and programs. The purpose is to generate evidence-based knowledge and information that supports the development of demand-driven rice technologies, policies and institutions to improve livelihoods, nutrition and economic development. The program aims at developing impact assessment tools and methods and at enhancing capacity for impact assessment, policy analysis and priority setting among partner institutions such as the NARS. The unit is also responsible for the implementation of adoption studies, ex- ante and ex-post impact assessment studies on a wide range of themes including assessments on the impact of trade liberalization on rural livelihoods.

However, the emphasis put on poverty reduction now requires going beyond the usual adoption studies and estimation of internal rates of return to research. Consequently, the focus of the impact assessment research is now on providing information on the ex-ante and ex-post impact of WARDA- and NARS-generated rice technologies on various household and community welfare and environmental outcomes including poverty, food security, nutrition, health and biodiversity. The Impact assessment research is conducted under four broad themes as follows:

1. Impact of modern varieties on farmer livelihoods and rice biodiversity

2. Impact of improved crop management practices on farmers’ livelihoods

3. Impact of improved grain quality and post-harvest technologies on the rice sector

4. Developing regional capacity in impact assessment through training and joint implementation of collaborative projects.