Bintou [user:field_middlename] Nimaga

Bintou Nimaga

consultant
Mali

Specialist in rural development and gender, Bintou is a confirmed expert with more than twenty years experiences in development projects evaluation in particular those relating to resilience to food security and climate changes in Sahelian domain. She is AGDEN and AFREA member and evaluation consultant: She has developed experiences on all evaluation types: ex ante, mid-term and final.

My contributions

  • How to define and identify lessons learned?

    Discussion

    • Bintou Nimaga

      consultant
      Mali

      Hello Emilia!

      Thank you for this very interesting topic which deserves special knowledge. In fact, almost all evaluations insist on lessons/lessons learned, but my opinion is that this step is always at the discretion of the evaluator, his previous experiences and competences on the theme and/or the sector evaluated in relation to the results of the evaluation (attached, in French). I am attaching one of my examples of lessons learned from an evaluation on gender equality to benefit from the resources and services of the project evaluated. I hope it will contribute to the discussion. 

      Link here

      Exemple sur leçons apprises d'une évaluation.docx

  • How do we adapt our evaluation approach to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic?

    Discussion

    • Bintou Nimaga

      consultant
      Mali

      Hello dear members!

      I thank NICK MAUDER for having launched this reflection among us. Indeed, I fully share this observation on the cessation of ordinary activities carried out, in particular those relating to evaluation exercises. In fact, this is an unforeseen situation, but one which gives rise to reflections and provides the opportunity to reinforce the approaches used until now. I have often had the opportunity to manage evaluations in conflict zones where displacement is not possible due to insecurity. In these cases, I used "telephone" survey methods. This type of survey requires following some principles, among others:

      1. The formulation of short and precise questions, to avoid long discussions;

      2. A fairly strict time management because the people concerned can be discouraged quickly by lack of direct physical contact;

      3. A good orientation of the discussions, stay focused during the interview;

      4. The language of the interview is important in that the interviewee must be comfortable with understanding the questions asked, often interpreters are required;

      5. Good planning of the interview can often be time consuming because it requires a moment of total availability of the person or group.

      However, the method requires more triangulation efforts to verify the data collected. It must be said that this is an alternative methodology but not a replacement for human contact. Indeed, human contact is always the best means of evaluation because it allows the evaluator to make observations and personal observations which can support the appreciation of the facts.

  • Peut-on se contenter de l'évaluation seule pour s'assurer de l'atteinte des ODD?

    Discussion

    • Bintou Nimaga

      consultant
      Mali

      Thank you for launching this topic, which provides an opportunity to clarify these two aspects: monitoring and evaluation which are very often the subject of discussion in development initiatives.

      Monitoring and evaluation are two elements that complement each other to better guide the project/program towards the results and objectives of development. However, one cannot cancel the other as a good monitoring is an assurance for a good evaluation.

      The formulation of indicators is an important step in that it targets the project evaluation monitoring device. Well formulated, these indicators also reflect the criteria of effectiveness, sustainability, efficiency, effects/impacts. Coherence and relevance, in particular to the needs and aspirations of the beneficiary communities, also involve the application of a participatory analysis mechanism to integrate the interests of all stakeholders. When carried out well in the field, coherence/relevance analysis is also an opportunity to integrate equality/equity aspects into the monitoring and evaluation indicators (project dashboard).

      In my view, the results-based indicators (RBM) favour the establishment of operational and realistic monitoring. I have found that project tracking devices are generally focused on carrying out activities. This model is easier to achieve but gives less chance of directing planning towards the intended results and also does not make it easier for evaluators because the data produced is not sufficient to assess the analysis elements and compare them to the field results. Now, with increasingly reduced budgets, the duration and quality of evaluations suffer. This lack of assessment generally leads to differences of opinion between project managers and evaluators, as you will agree that an evaluator, regardless of his/her competence, will not have access to all the necessary elements of assessment for a good evaluation. Hence the need for an adequate, effective and integrated monitoring system.

      I recommend that agricultural projects provide the means for good field analysis during the planning phase and that they pay more attention to the issue of indicators and monitoring mechanism by integrating the evaluation criteria. Also, periodic synthesis and analysis of monitoring data is important and provides technical opportunities to better correct project inadequacies prior to evaluations.

       

  • Are agriculture programs supporting women to improve their livelihood?

    Discussion

    • Bintou Nimaga

      consultant
      Mali

      Hello Hadi Khalil

      Thank you for bringing up this topic which is topical today and especially in developing countries. Urban agriculture is practiced with limited means and especially with space lacking. In my home country, experiences are developing more and more on the occupation of the roofs of apartments where women and men grow market gardening especially. 
      This type of production is also favorable for organic production, because the reduction in space means that producers have to focus on the quality of production in order to recover prices. You will also agree that organic farming has positive impacts on household health. However, this type of production needs to be scaled up, through training and support to give it all the chance to emerge alongside conventional agricultural production.