African farmers harvesting crops
November 17, 2017 EnCompass Staff No Comments

Evaluating USC Canada’s Seeds of Survival

Project dates: 2015

Client type: Non-Profits and Foundations

Key topics: Agriculture and Food Security, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research

Related Country(ies): Ethiopia, Honduras, Timor-Leste

Region: Global, Latin America and the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa


EnCompass conducted the midterm evaluation of USC Canada’s Seeds of Survival program. USC Canada promotes vibrant family farms, strong rural communities, and healthy ecosystems around the world, by focusing on activities that build food and livelihood security for small-scale farmers, and preserve the agricultural biodiversity necessary to feeding a growing and changing planet. Its core program, Seeds of Survival, works in partnerships with farming communities in 12 countries around the world.

EnCompass conducted a mixed-methods evaluation using Appreciative Inquiry, most significant change, community statistics, site visits, observation, and other qualitative approaches. The evaluation team completed country visits in Ethiopia, Honduras, and Timor-Leste. To engage participants, the team used Robert Chambers’ community statistics methods and innovative approaches, such as photographs, videos, story-telling, and arts-based techniques. The evaluation was able to identify good practices to improve and strengthen future Seeds of Survival programming. 

Image c/o Tanya Martineau, Prospect Arts, Food for the Hungry (2016 Food for Peace Photo Contest finalist) via Creative Commons

EnCompass Staff

EnCompass offers innovative solutions for organizational excellence.  We seek to enhance the impact and capacity of government and multilateral agencies, corporations, and nonprofits around the world through customized services in organizational and leadership development, training, technical assistance, and evaluation.

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