Major Findings of a Follow-Up Evaluation on Peasant Contests, MARENASS Project, Peru, 2008

As part of the Impact Assessment component of the Alliance for Andean Change Project (www.cambioandino.org) a follow-up impact study was developed on the case of Peasant Contests run by the Ministry of Agriculture’s MARENASS Project in Peru. This study collected new evidence on the reach and impacts achieved three years after project termination, as a result of the participatory methodology used by the Peasant Contests. Forty-six communities were involved in the contest, as a result of which they developed stronger capacity to draw the boundaries of an intervention area together with their neighbours and in a more rapid manner. These households effectively developed ownership, making their own choices with regard to each relevant aspect of the process. Due to the high degree of participation and empowerment achieved, the study was able to collect evidence of significant change and improvement amongst participant communities and their households, including increased livelihoods, value added to their farms’ resources and improved overall wellbeing.