Under the Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress (GRASP) initiative, this project focused on assessing the management capacities, trading practices and capacities, data management, infrastructure and other facilities of the horticulture and livestock Agricultural (wholesale) Produce Markets (APM) in selected districts Balochistan & Sindh. To undertake this project Cynosure conducted a field survey in 18 horticulture and livestock APMs and developed APMs Capacity Assessment Reports, APM Market Profiles, and APM Market Improvement Plans for both horticulture and livestock APMs in Balochistan and Sindh.
 

The purpose of the MTE was to assess the effectiveness of the programmatic approaches of PAD activities. The evaluation was based on the criteria of DAC/OECD, including relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability. In order to assess the quantitative contribution of different interventions, a beneficiary survey was conducted in 09 selected target districts of both provinces with 796 beneficiaries.

Livestock farming in KP province is predominantly subsistence, the management system for animals including dairy cattle and buffalos is primitive and has faced a number of constraints and challenges.With such a background, the Pakistan and KP Governments  requested a technical cooperation to Japanese Government for improving livelihood of small-scale farming community through development of livestock sector focusing on dairy sub-sector.

Cynosure Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd. carried out a preparatory study to collect and analyze necessary baseline data on livestock and dairy development with a correlation to livelihood.

The Objective of the assignment was to thoroughly describe the dairy value chain with a focus on identifying the gendered barriers and opportunities (including production, market scope, size and requirements for linkages) and make specific recommendations for interventions that would improve women’s economic empowerment (including income and control over resources) at different stages of the value chain. Cynosure Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd. conducted a detailed Value Chain Assessment in Sindh along with designing an Inclusive business model centered around the role of women. It presents risk management measures associated with women as business actors, actual women skills, capacities and opportunities. The Business model  focuses on poverty reduction, improved feed, training of farmers and or women livestock health workers, establishment of milk collection and processing units and market linkages.

The project (PAAID) aims at supporting the upgrading of quality and enhancement of quantity of agro-food production in selected provinces of Pakistan, in view of market opportunities boosting from the development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The ultimate goal of the assistance is to avail provinces of Pakistan with better products for its local market, thus decreasing post-harvest losses and agro- wastage, as well as gaining competitive advantage in the local food production when it comes to export to regional and international markets. 

Cynosure Consultants (Pvt.)Ltd. developed a financial and technical feasibility study for the establishment of 3 model nurseries, energy efficient technologies and fish pelleting units. Trainings were also conducted in the areas of gender mainstreaming, value chain analysis and institutional research.

The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reached an understanding with the World Bank to develop a broad programme for economic development of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with financial assistance from the World Bank.  As part of the programme, irrigated agriculture is one of the key priority areas. The tentative project cost is estimated at approximately USD185 million, of which the World Bank would finance up to USD165 million from the International Development Association (IDA). The KPIAP has three main components including;

• Irrigation System Management: rehabilitation of upstream irrigation system and training and capacity building of the department;

• On-farm Water Management: rehabilitation and improvement of watercourses, promotion of water conservation technologies and training and capacity building of the department; and

• Agriculture productivity and value addition:  productivity, post-harvest management, marketing and value addition in crops, horticulture and livestock subsectors by supporting training and technology for farmers and agribusinesses; strengthening public agricultural research system and extension service; and rehabilitation of market infrastructure.

As an individual consultant, Ms. Munazza Zia was hired to assist the mission in (a) analyzing the environmental and social implications of the proposed project activities identified by government counterparts, in order to prevent, minimize, or mitigate any adverse environmental and social impacts, while enhancing the positive impacts of the project. (b) provide assistance in preparation of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Resettlement Plan Framework (RPF) and an Indigenous Peoples Plan Framework (IPPF) in accordance with the national/provincial laws on environmental protection and World Bank safeguard policies, and (c) conduct field visits to selected sites in Chitral, Dera Ismail Khan, Haripur, and Swat districts.

To respond to climatic challenges, FAO has been working with the Government of Pakistan’s National Designated Authority (NDA) to develop a project proposal for application to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) that focuses on the specific climate issue of projected increases in the intensity and frequency of drought across Pakistan and related water scarcity. The project focuses on poor, smallholder farmers that do not have easy access to reliable water supplies and are therefore highly exposed to longer and more frequent droughts. It will facilitate necessary adaptations to cope with water scarcity at all levels using innovative but proven technologies and FAO tools under the ‘Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)’ umbrella.

As an individual consultant, Ms. Munazza Zia was hired to  assist the FAO mission in advancing the preparation activities related to the FAO and (GCF interim) International Finance Corporation (IFC)-standard safeguards requirements, including: (a) preparing the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Ethnic Group Engagement Framework (EGEF) and, if deemed applicable after consultations, a Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF); (b) designing implementation arrangements for the safeguards related tasks; (c) develop a monitoring framework for safeguards related actions described in the ESMF and RPF; and (d) develop a mitigation action plan with the cost estimate.

The Bank is undertaking value chain assessment of three major NTFPs in Pakistan to understand key opportunities and constraints affecting the efficient development of local NTFP market and value chain systems. The proposed three NTFPs are Mazari (Dwarf Palm), Guggal (Commiphora Wightii), and Peelu (Salvadora Persica).

Cynosure was contracted to undertake the following activities as part of the assignment: provide detailed analysis of the key opportunities and constraints affecting the efficient development of local NTFP market and value chain systems, following interaction and interviews with key NTFP producer groups at community level and other Value Chain participants (including private sector, collectors and traders, wholesalers, processors, retailers and exporters, public sector participants, financial, input suppliers, sector specific suppliers etc); Assess the potential of collective producer actions that may help strengthen sustainability of the value chain and; Review the value chain development of these NTFPs in relation to global trade conditions with regards to trade standards, organic or Fair-Trade certification etc. 

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Under the Italian - Egyptian Debt for Development Swap Agreement (IEDS), this USD 8.5 million project was initiated in 2013 in order to improve the performance of Egyptian export-oriented horticultural value chains. The project is implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, and the Ministry of Transport. The GTI project focuses on improvement of eight value chains, including tomatoes, grapes, pomegranates, artichokes, peppers, etc. with the perspective of improving production, processing, and sea freight. I undertook a mid-term review of the project to assess the extent to which the project has met its objectives and provided recommendations to improve efficiency and ensure sustainability of interventions after project closure. Ms. Umm e led the MTE of the project. 

Improved Productivity for Economic Development of Smallholder Women and Men Farmers in Pakistan” was implemented in partnership with three leading NGOs namely Sindh Agricultural and Forestry Workers Coordinating Organization (SAFWCO) in District Dadu, Doaba Foundation in District Muzaffargarh, and Balochistan Environmental and Education Journey (BEEJ) in District Musa Khel. The project was implemented with an aim to promote women’s property rights and productivity, enhance dairy livestock production, and strengthen small businesses to increase incomes of smallholder women and men farmers in Pakistan.

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The Australian funded Australia Balochistan Agribusiness Project (AusBBA) (GCP/PAK/126/AUL) launched in 2012 is currently working in 6 districts of Balochistan (Chagai, Kech, Kharan, Nushki, Panjgur, and Washuk). Since inception the project has been working on water resources management, community mobilization, marketing, crop production, livestock and female income generating activities. Farmers Field Schools are the preferred approach for training and knowledge development.

As an individual consultant, Ms. Munazza was  contract to assist the mission in assessing the Women Economic Empowerment inclusive agribusiness & value chains and address the following performance questions: (a) Is the AusABBA I programme on track (in 2016 and during no cost extension until July 2017) with the transition from a food security and poverty alleviation programme into a (small farmers and female) inclusive value chains and agribusiness programme tailored to Balochistan conditions. (b) The relevance of and appropriateness of the design of the AusABBA No Cost Extension (NCE) and AusABBA phase II to sustain results.  (c) To assess and advise on the improvement of the current and future   implementation of the AusABBA phase I No Cost Extension and AusABBA phase II programme.

UNDP Country Offices across various regions commission decentralized evaluations of projects and program portfolios. The UNDP Independent Evaluation Office assess the quality of decentralized evaluations carried out each year. Ms. Umm e Zia was contracted to undertake the assignment as an individual consultant.  She was responsible for reviewing the assigned decentralized evaluation reports according to the Quality System devised by the IEO and provide  appraisal of the quality of the report. These assessment findings are made available to the relevant UNDP bureaus and program units and are reported to the UNDP Executive Board as part of the IEO Annual Report on Evaluation.

The overall objective of the research is to present findings and develop legislative recommendations for social protection needs, opportunities, and challenges for service providers as well as for smallholders women and men farmers.

Cynosure Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd. presented a situation analysis on  background of social protection opportunities available for smallholder farmers, social protection schemes by government in Sindh and Punjab and challenges of micro-insurance sector.