February 29, 2008

SUCCESS Alliance Organizes Cocoa Monitoring and Evaluation Conference

SUCCESS Alliance hosted a three-day workshop, titled “Monitoring and Evaluation for Smallholder Based Cocoa Projects in Southeast Asia” in Bogor, Indonesia. Thirty-six people participated from NGOs, government and other organizations implementing cocoa development projects throughout Southeast Asia. ACDI/VOCA is a founding member of the Sustainable CoCoa Enterprise Solutions for Smallholders (SUCCESS) Alliance and has implemented programs to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers by promoting cocoa production and marketing in a way that is economically, environmentally, socially and culturally sustainable in five countries.

The conference’s first day focused on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) theory and best practices. During the second and third days, each project presented its M&E system, or an aspect of the system, to small review groups. All participants had the opportunity to both present their projects and review other projects’ systems. Through this activity, projects left the workshop with concrete ideas as to how to improve their M&E.

The SUCCESS Alliance receives funding from the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Agency for International Development. Private sector partners include the World Cocoa Foundation and Mars, Inc. The Alliance also includes international and local organizations in the countries where the SUCCESS Alliance is active–Ecuador, Indonesia, Liberia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

For more information on ACDI/VOCA’s work in cocoa, click here.