Abstract
This evaluation focuses on whether there is evidence that the Guatemalan agricultural value chain programs improved the welfare of individuals within the municipalities affected by the programs. It is therefore an impact evaluation, asking whether observed impacts were caused specifically by these programs by using counterfactual comparisons. This report details the outcome of the Guatemala Evaluation Study, which was undertaken following the determination that a non-experimental impact evaluation was feasible based on information gathered during a site visit to Guatemala to assess program goals, objectives, implementation, and performance data and to collect available secondary datasets. This impact evaluation study was carried out in two stages. During the first stage, a feasibility study was conducted. The second stage corresponded to the study's data analysis. The first stage began with a site visit to the Guatemala USAID Mission to collect general background information on the interventions being evaluated. USAID/Guatemala, through its partners, implemented four agricultural projects intended to assist smallholder farmers in Guatemala in improving their farming practices and to provide access to national, regional, and international markets. The ultimate goal of these interventions was to increase employment at the local level and to make the country more competitive on the international market. Specific evaluation findings, conclusions and recommendations are provided with detailed analysis for impact evaluation areas. (Excerpt, modified)