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Prioritizing Rural Investments in Africa: A Hybrid Evaluation Approach Applied to Uganda

Author

Listed:
  • Karl Pauw

    (International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington DC, USA)

  • James Thurlow

    (International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington DC, USA)

Abstract

Prioritizing public investments requires information on relative returns that is difficult to derive from disparate evaluation studies. This article presents a ‘hybrid’ approach that combines ex post evaluation data with an economywide model for experimenting ex ante with alternative investment portfolios within a consistent, structural framework. The approach is used to evaluate rural investments in Uganda. Agricultural research and extension services are found to be more effective at promoting economic growth and poverty reduction than either rural feeder roads or irrigation infrastructure. This suggests that the government’s recent shift in emphasis from extension services to irrigation may potentially reduce the overall benefits of its agricultural investment plan.

Suggested Citation

  • Karl Pauw & James Thurlow, 2015. "Prioritizing Rural Investments in Africa: A Hybrid Evaluation Approach Applied to Uganda," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 27(3), pages 407-424, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:eurjdr:v:27:y:2015:i:3:p:407-424
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    Cited by:

    1. Ragasa, Catherine & Spielman, David & Lynam, John, 2025. "Agricultural innovation frames, policies, and instruments: evolution, lessons, and future research," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    2. Yosri Nasr Ahmed & Mostafa M. Negm & Mohamad Alnafissa & Fatma Hefnawy, 2024. "An empirical analysis of irrigation modernization projects using the CGE model," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(1), pages 1177-1194, January.
    3. Boureima Sawadogo, 2024. "Can Burkina Faso’s Agricultural Mechanization Program Reduce Poverty in the Country," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(4), pages 1016-1036, August.
    4. Mukashov, A., 2023. "Parameter uncertainty in policy planning models: Using portfolio management methods to choose optimal policies under world market volatility," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 187-202.
    5. Aragie, Emerta & Diao, Xinshen & Spielman, David J. & Thurlow, James, 2024. "The economywide recovery measures in Rwanda during the COVID-19 pandemic: How useful a lesson?," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 46(6), pages 1103-1124.
    6. Aragie, Emerta Asaminew & McDonald, Scott & Ferrari, Emanuele & Dudu, Hasan, 2016. "Investment in agricultural productivity vs rural commercialization: which way to rapid poverty reduction in Ethiopia?," Conference papers 332743, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    7. Raouf, Mariam & Kassim, Yumna & Kurdi, Sikandra & Mogues, Tewodaj & Mahmoud, Mai & Randriamamonjy, Josée & Thurlow, James & Wiebelt, Manfred & Breisinger, Clemens, 2018. "The (Arab) Agricultural Investment for Development Analyzer (AIDA): An innovative tool for evidence-based planning," MENA working papers 6, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    8. Ragasa, Catherine & Mazunda, John, 2018. "The impact of agricultural extension services in the context of a heavily subsidized input system: The case of Malawi," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 25-47.
    9. Danielle Resnick, 2022. "Does Accountability Undermine Service Delivery? The Impact of Devolving Agriculture in Ghana," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(2), pages 1003-1029, April.
    10. Pierre Boulanger & Hasan Dudu & Emanuele Ferrari & Alfredo Mainar Causape & Federica Angelucci & Renata Baborska & Thibault Meilland, 2018. "Allocations budgétaires optimales et options de réformes pour le secteur agricole dans le Plan Sénégal Emergent 2019-2023," JRC Research Reports JRC113242, Joint Research Centre.
    11. Aragie, Emerta A. & Thurlow, James & Warner, James & Niyonsingiza, Josue, 2025. "Economywide assessment of CSA interventions in building resilient agri-food systems in Rwanda," IFPRI discussion papers 2373, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    12. Emerta Aragie & James Thurlow, 2026. "Modeling Crop‐Livestock Interactions in Semi‐Subsistence Economies," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 57(1), January.

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