With the new normal, everyone pivoted to move their programs and events online. Largely, everywhere people are figuring out “the how” to go about considering the new realities in early months but now it is the situation helped many ways to find meaningful solutions to reach out and evaluate/assess the impact and success of what we have offered during the course of time.

Though movements were halted due to Covid-19 restrictions and subsequent lockdowns, it has helped in many ways to develop and upgrade our internal systems and to be more creative to deal with appropriate solutions according to the new challenges.

Prof. Dr. P J George, of the Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology, and Sciences (SHUATS), Allahabad having more than 36years of diverse experiences with international research as a development scientist and Associate Dean cum Research Coordinator for natural resource management and agriculture has identified as the external evaluator to evaluate the impact of smallholder adaptive farming and biodiversity network (SAFBIN).

There were many questions arrive like “how program success could be documented through virtual meetings and interactions and how it will be impactful while demonstrating the process of changes happened in lives of smallholder during the program cycle” but with the help of appropriate technological solutions and a well-designed impact evaluation methodology, it became more convenient to conduct the mid-term evaluation despite the covid-19 situation.

The strategy was prepared to undertake the mid-term evaluation in coordination with South Asia Regional Enablers (SARE) team members. Considering the Covid-19 situation, the Caritas India SAFBIN team took efforts to hold a planning meeting with the implementing partners and a detailed plan of action prepared and field realities. The draft plan was further presented to the SARE team members and suggested having at least (3) smallholders, (3) field staff, and (1) stakeholder from each district.

However, to get more diverse information and data, (6) smallholders (3-women farmers and 3-male farmers), (3) field staffs (Program Director, District Program Officer, Village Research Assistant), any (2) stakeholders (Agriculture, Horticulture, Veterinary and Health Department) and (1) CLF (Cluster level facilitator) from each district were taken through a random sampling method.

The members of smallholder farmers collectives (SHFC) have made incredible developments in growing in their virtual presence. The entire process has been hosted via virtual platforms like TEAMS and WhatsApp. Smallholder farmers from different SAFBIN villages contributed very enthusiastically and significantly whiles sharing their learning and experiences.

The process was kept simple according to the situation that smallholders can adapt to the technological systems to devote quality time for interactions. The mid-term evaluation exercise through the virtual platform was though all-new for the Caritas India SAFBIN team but has helped to develop the team capacity to deal with the situation wisely and completed all 24 virtual interactions within the stipulated time frame.

The whole evaluation process was so new for me. it was so interesting while interacting with the evaluator sir and showing virtually my vegetable garden, fruit crops, different grains, plantations, diversified food basket, farm components, and connection that has built over the years through SAFBIN. I felt like he is with me. (Yeh to mere liye purahi naya tha, bahat achha tha jab sir se baat kia laptop ke madhyam se or unko apna sabji kheti, anaaj, tarah tarah ki khana, kheti ke ghatak video ke madhyam se dikhana adbhoot tha. Aisa lage ki o hamare saath hi hai… Bramha Bai of Baigakheda village said.