LONGITUDINAL AND CROSS SECTIONAL MIX DATA APPROACH TO IMPACT ASSESSMENT: A CASE STUDY OF COMMUNITY BASED NAT

Abstract

The study employed longitudinal and cross-sectional mix data approach, “before and after”, “with and without” technique in assessing the impact of IFAD Assisted Community Based Natural Resource Management Programme on the socio-economic livelihood, including agricultural productivity, nutrition and job creation potentials of the beneficiaries. Multi-stage sampling was employed to elicit responses from 1,928 households in 64 communities covering 9 participating states in the Niger-Delta Region of Nigeria. The Component Index Analysis, Productivity Index and Double Differencing techniques were employed for data analysis.The Component Index Analysis revealed that even though beneficiaries were of better wealth standing compared to non-beneficiaries, inequalities were observed within the ranks of targeted beneficiaries. Also, direct enterprise productivity impact of programme on beneficiaries was 61.1%, 203.3% and 30.1% for crops, livestock and fisheries respectively. Programme impact on food consumed was 21.4% while 84.95% of the beneficiaries observed improved nutrition compared to 67.7% under control group. About 47,454 jobs were created with crop sub-sector accounting for about 75% of the total. The study concluded that the programme impacted on the socio-economic livelihood of beneficiaries, although, impact varied within the rank and file of beneficiaries.